title: Morphology of congenital portosystemic shunts emanating from the left gastric vein in dogs and cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the anatomy of congenital portosystemic shunts emanating from the left gastric vein in dogs and cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs and cats managed for congenital portosystemic shunts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six dogs and 27 cats met the inclusion criteria of a congenital portosystemic shunt emanating from the left gastric vein. Of the 46 dogs, 28 (61%) had a shunt that entered the left phrenic vein, 10 (22%) had a shunt that entered the post hepatic caudal vena cava and in 8 (17%) the shunt entered the azygos vein. Of the 27 cats, 19 (70%) had a shunt that entered the left phrenic vein and 8 (30%) had a shunt that entered the post hepatic caudal vena cava.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The systemic vein into which the shunt entered was consistent showing three common presentations: left gastro-phrenic, left gastro-caval and left gastro-azygos. This information may help with surgical planning in cases undergoing shunt closure surgery.
authors.affiliation: Willows Referral Service, Highlands Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4NH.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Parry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000473:pathology