title: Morphology of splenocaval congenital portosystemic shunts in dogs and cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the anatomy of congenital portosystemic shunts involving the splenic vein communicating with the caudal vena cava at the level of the epiploic foramen.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs and cats managed for congenital portosystemic shunts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-eight dogs and eight cats met the inclusion criteria of a congenital portosystemic shunt involving the splenic vein communicating with the prehepatic caudal vena cava plus recorded intra-operative mesenteric portovenography or computed tomography angiography and gross observations at surgery. All cases (both dogs and cats) had a highly consistent shunt that involved a distended gastrosplenic vein that communicated with the caudal vena cava at the level of the epiploic foramen via an anomalous left gastric vein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The morphology of the shunt type described appeared to be a result of an abnormal communication between the left gastric vein and the caudal vena cava and the subsequent development of preferential blood flow through an essentially normal portal venous system. The abnormal communication (shunt) was through the left gastric vein and not the splenic vein, as might have been expected. This information may help with surgical planning in cases undergoing shunt closure surgery.
authors.affiliation: Willows Referral Service, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4NH.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Willows Referral Service, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4NH.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Parry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011168:Portal System / Q000002:abnormalities*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013162:Splenic Vein / Q000002:abnormalities; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities