Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with liver shunt treated using heart septal occluder device
By Weisse, Chick et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2005·Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of a percutaneous atrial septal occluder device for complete acute occlusion of an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-month-old male German Shepherd was brought to the vet because he was acting depressed, having trouble walking, and even collapsed. Tests showed he had a serious liver issue called an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PSS), which was causing high ammonia levels in his blood. The vet used a special device, usually meant for heart conditions in people, to close off the shunt. After a successful second attempt, the dog was completely healed and showed no signs of illness a year later.
People also search for: dog liver shunt treatment · German Shepherd collapse symptoms · dog ammonia levels high treatment
Abstract
A 3-month-old sexually intact male German Shepherd Dog was evaluated because of signs of depression, ataxia, and collapse. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included low serum BUN and albumin concentrations and high serum liver enzyme activities and plasma ammonia and serum bile acids concentrations. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PSS). The dog was anesthetized; via a transjugular approach, guidewires and catheters were directed with fluoroscopic guidance to locate the shunt and determine its anatomic features. Minimal changes in portal vein pressure during temporary shunt balloon occlusion enabled complete shunt attenuation, which was performed by use of a self-expanding septal occlusion device that is typically used for treatment of atrial septal defects in humans. Following initial misplacement of the device, the procedure was repeated successfully 2 months later and resulted in complete shunt occlusion. One year after this second procedure, the dog was clinically normal and serum bile acids concentration was within reference limits. In certain dogs with intrahepatic PSSs, treatment with minimally invasive interventional techniques involving fluoroscopy may reduce the morbidity and mortality rates associated with more invasive surgical procedures.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16047661/