Transvenous Coil Embolization of an Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in a Dog

Abstract

To treat an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a young dog, thrombogenic material was placed into the vessel lumen (transvenous coil embolization) under fluoroscopic control. One coil was placed into the shunt, followed one month later by two additional coils. Transvenous embolization may become a useful method in the treatment of some portosystemic shunts.

Successful Treatment by Percutaneous Transvenous Coil Embolization in a Small-breed Dog with Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

“…This excellent result was similar in the previous reports described on the PTCEs in 2 large-breed dogs (an Alaskan Malamute and a Golden Retriever) with patent ductus venosus [2,3]. These evidences therefore suggest that PTCE becomes a promising technique for the treatment of canine intrahepatic PSS.…”

“…Some differences could be indicated between our case and the previous 2 cases [2,3] as follows. Firstly, our case was a small-breed dog in contrast to 2 large-breed dogs (an Alaskan Malamute and a Golden Retriever) in the previous reports [2,3].…”

“…Firstly, our case was a small-breed dog in contrast to 2 large-breed dogs (an Alaskan Malamute and a Golden Retriever) in the previous reports [2,3]. Secondly, only one coil in one operation was placed in our case in contrast to 4 coils in 4 separate operations [3] and 3 coils in 2 different operations [2] in the previous reports. Those differences are thought to be mainly associated with the diameter of shunting duct.…”

“…The surgical attenuation of the shunting vessel in dogs with congenital intrahepatic PSS is the treatment of choice, but is technically demanding and time consuming and depends greatly on the surgeon's skill and experience [2][3][4][5]. Especially, the conventional surgical techniques are associated with high complication rate and mortality due to their high invasiveness in the difficult cases of the identification and isolation of the intrahepatic shunt.…”

“…There are limited numbers of reports on the successful treatment using the transvenous coil embolization in the large-breed dogs [2][3][4]. However, transvenous coil occlusion in small-breed dogs with intrahepatic PSS has not been reported yet to the best of our knowledge.…”