Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Does liver fat affect recovery after shunt surgery in dogs
By Hunt, Geraldine B et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2014·School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Does hepatic steatosis have an impact on the short term hepatic response after complete attenuation of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts? A prospective study of 20 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 20 dogs with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts underwent surgery to correct the issue, and researchers looked at how liver fat (hepatic steatosis) affected their recovery. After surgery, the dogs' liver size and blood flow were monitored, but the study found that the amount of fat in the liver didn't impact how well the dogs recovered or if they developed new shunts. Interestingly, younger dogs had fewer fat droplets in their liver compared to older dogs. Overall, the presence of liver fat did not seem to affect the dogs' recovery from the surgery.
People also search for: dog liver shunt surgery recovery · congenital portosystemic shunt in dogs · hepatic steatosis in dogs treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between hepatic steatosis and increase in liver size and resolution of shunting after surgical attenuation of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: Dogs (n = 20) with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts. METHODS: Shunts were attenuated using ameroid ring constrictors. Portal blood flow and liver volume were evaluated using computed tomography before and ≥8 weeks after surgery. Hepatic steatosis was quantified by stereological point counting of lipid droplets and lipogranulomas (LG) in liver biopsies stained with Oil-red-O. Associations between steatosis and preoperative liver volume, liver growth after surgery, and development of acquired shunts were evaluated. RESULTS: Acquired shunts developed in 2 dogs (10%). Dogs with larger preoperative liver volumes relative to bodyweight had fewer lipid droplets per tissue point (P = .019). LG per tissue point were significantly associated with age: 0.019 ± 0.06 for dogs <12 months versus 0.25 ± 0.49 for dogs >12 months (P = .007). There was a significant positive association between liver growth after surgery and the number of LG/month of age in dogs >12 months (P = .003). There was no association between steatosis, presence of macrosteatosis, the number of LG or development of acquired shunts. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that the presence of hepatic lipidosis and LG has no demonstrable effect on development of acquired shunts or the magnitude of increase in liver volume after attenuation of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24819233/