Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery Q&A 20
A seven-month-old cat is presented with intermittent behavioral and neurological abnormalities. The abdominal cavity of this cat during exploratory laparotomy is shown.
| Question | Answer | Article | |
| What is the diagnosis? | Extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. |
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| Describe the surgical therapy. | The anomalous vessel is identified and a ligature is placed as close to the vena cava as possible. Portal vein pressure is monitored during attenuation of the vessel, and visual inspection of the splanchnic viscera is used to evaluate circulation and look for signs of passive congestion. The anomalous vessel is partially or totally closed, depending on the rise in portal pressure and the quality of visceral perfusion. More recently, reports of shunt occlusion using an ameroid ring have shown good results with limited morbidity and mortality. |
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| What is the prognosis following surgery? | The prognosis following surgery for portosystemic shunts in cats is less favorable than in dogs because postoperative improvement is less predictable. Persistence or relapse of clinical signs after initial improvement is common and is caused in some cases by development of multiple acquired portosystemic shunts after surgery. |
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