Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with liver blood vessel shunt treated by coil embolization
By Weisse, Chick et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2002·Department of Clinical Studies, 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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Transjugular coil embolization of an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 4-month-old male domestic shorthair cat was brought in for intermittent tremors, drooling, and signs of depression. The vet found that the cat was underweight and had abnormal blood test results indicating liver issues. An ultrasound revealed an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, which is a blood vessel that bypasses the liver. The cat underwent a procedure where coils were placed to close off the shunt, and after recovery, all symptoms disappeared. Ten weeks later, the cat was doing well, and its liver function tests returned to normal.
People also search for: cat tremors drooling treatment · intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in cats · cat liver disease recovery
Abstract
A 4-month-old male domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for intermittent tremors, ptyalism, and signs of depression. The cat was small, thin, and unthrifty. Clinically important serum biochemical abnormalities included low blood urea nitrogen concentration and high baseline bile acids concentration. Abdominal ultrasonography and jejunal portography identified an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. The cat was anesthetized, and a transjugular approach was used for percutaneous coil embolization of the shunt. Guidewires, catheters, and coils were inserted under fluoroscopic guidance to locate the shunt and define its anatomy, measure portal vein pressures before and after temporary balloon occlusion, and place thrombogenic coils to completely attenuate the anomalous vessel. The cat recovered without complications and was weaned from medical management. Ten weeks following the procedure, clinical signs had completely resolved, and baseline bile acids concentration was near reference range. Results in this cat illustrate that interventional radiology techniques can be safely used in small animals and may reduce the morbidity and mortality rates associated with traditional surgical procedures.
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/12418694/