Congenital portal vein aplasia with portocaval shunting in two dogs

Hwang, Taesung; Moon, Jonghyun; Lee, Hee Chun

doi:2019.59.3.171

Korean J Vet Res > Volume 59(3); 2019 > Article

Case report

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2019;59(3):171-173.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14405/kjvr.2019.59.3.171 Published online October 28, 2019.

Congenital portal vein aplasia with portocaval shunting in two dogs

Taesung Hwang¹, Jonghyun Moon², Hee Chun Lee¹

¹Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University
²Centum Animal Medical Center

Correspondence: Hee Chun Lee, Tel: 82-55-772-2356, Fax: 82-55-772-2330,
Email: lhc@gnu.ac.kr

Abstract

Two dogs presented with vomiting and head pressing. In both dogs, a large vessel was revealed in computed tomography (CT) angiography, which was found to leave the portal vein (PV) cranial to the splenomesenteric confluence and enter the pre-hepatic caudal vena cava cranial to the right renal vein. The flow of portal blood to the liver was not identified. Based on CT angiography, the dogs were suspected to have congenital PV aplasia with portocaval shunting. Diagnostic imaging of potential malformations for PV continuation should be conducted before attempting shunt closure.

Key Words: CT angiography, dogs, portal vein aplasia, portosystemic shunt