Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Liver size and blood flow changes in dogs after shunt surgery
By Zwingenberger, Allison L et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2014·Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Correlation between liver volume, portal vascular anatomy, and hepatic perfusion in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunt before and after placement of ameroid constrictors.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (abnormal blood vessels that bypass the liver) underwent a procedure using an ameroid constrictor to help improve their liver function. Before the surgery, some dogs had small liver volumes and no visible portal blood vessels, but after the procedure, many showed significant increases in liver size and developed new blood vessels. The study found that dogs with smaller livers benefited the most from the treatment, and their blood flow to the liver improved as well. Overall, the surgery was successful in enhancing liver health in these dogs.
People also search for: dog liver shunt treatment · ameroid constrictor for dogs · congenital portosystemic shunt symptoms
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To correlate changes in hepatic volume, hepatic perfusion, and vascular anatomy of dogs with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts, before and after attenuation with an ameroid constrictor. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: Dogs (n = 22) with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts. METHODS: CT angiography and perfusion scans were performed before and after attenuation of a portosystemic shunt with an ameroid constrictor. Changes in hepatic volume, hepatic perfusion, and vascular anatomy were measured. Portal scintigraphy was performed in 8 dogs preoperatively and 22 dogs postoperatively. RESULTS: Dogs with smaller preoperative liver volumes had greater increases in liver volume postoperatively compared with those with larger preoperative liver volumes. Hepatic arterial fraction was increased in dogs preoperatively and returned to normal range after shunt attenuation, and was correlated with increase in liver size and decreased shunt fraction. Three dogs with no visible portal vasculature preoperatively developed portal branches postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Dogs with smaller preoperative liver volumes had the largest postoperative increase in liver volume. Hepatic arterial perfusion and portal scintigraphy correlate with liver volume and are indicators of successful shunt attenuation. Dogs without visible vasculature on CT angiography had visible portal vasculature postoperatively.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24724740/