Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Postcaval thrombosis and delayed shunt migration after pleuro-peritoneal venous shunting for concurrent chylothorax and chylous ascites in a dog.
- Journal:
- Veterinary surgery : VS
- Year:
- 1996
- Authors:
- Peterson, S L
- Affiliation:
- Department of Surgery · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old spayed female dog was diagnosed with both chylothorax (fluid in the chest) and chylous ascites (fluid in the abdomen) due to a condition called intestinal lymphangiectasia. To help manage her condition, the veterinarians placed a special drainage system and a shunt to help with fluid removal. Unfortunately, shortly after surgery, she developed kidney failure because of a blood clot near the shunt, but this was treated successfully with blood thinners. For about 10 weeks, her symptoms improved, but then she suddenly got worse and had to be euthanized. A postmortem exam revealed that the fluid had returned because the shunt had moved from its original position.
Abstract
Simultaneous chylothorax and chylous ascites related to intestinal lymphangiectasia was diagnosed in a 4-year-old spayed female dog. Palliative pleural and peritoneal drainage was accomplished by placement of fenestrated silastic sheeting into surgically created diaphragmatic defects, and implantation of a pleuro-peritoneal venous shunt. The immediate postoperative period was complicated by acute renal failure secondary to postcaval thrombosis originating at the site of placement of the efferent pump catheter and extending to the level of the renal veins. Rapid resolution of this complication was accomplished with systemic anticoagulation. Clinical signs related to fluid accumulation resolved for 10 weeks after which acute decompensation occurred and the dog was euthanatized. Postmortem examination showed that reaccumulation of fluid was associated with migration of the efferent limb of the shunt from the caudal vena cava.
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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9012108/