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Morphology of splenocaval congenital portosystemic shunts in dogs and cats
Author(s) -
White R. N.,
Parry A. T.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/jsap.12414
Subject(s) - medicine , portosystemic shunt , shunt (medical) , splenic vein , inferior mesenteric vein , radiology , angiography , inferior vena cava , superior mesenteric vein , right gastric vein , foramen , jugular vein , vein , portal hypertension , surgery , portal vein , portal venous pressure , cirrhosis
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. MATERIALS AND 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. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE 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.