Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Atlas and Text

Chapter Three The Abd omen 309
Fig. 3-70 A 2-year-old female
Bichon Frisé with occasional seizures
and periods of stupor after eating.
The splenoportogram revealed
direct flow of portal blood to the
liver and the presence of a short
straight shunt (black arrow) directly
to the caudal vena cava (CVC).
Differential diagnoses include extrahepatic
portacaval shunt or persistent
patent ductus venosus. Diagnosis:
Persistent patent ductus venosus.
Fig. 3-71 A 2-year-old male Yorkshire Terrier with postprandial depression and occasional seizures.
Survey radiographs had revealed a small liver. The operative mesenteric portogram revealed a solitary
shunt going from the portal vein directly to the caudal vena cava. The shunt vessel (black arrow)
is clearly caudal to the caudal border of the liver and goes directly to the caudal vena cava (black cvc).
An esophageal stethoscope is seen in the caudal esophagus. The renal pelves and ureters are seen due
to contrast excretion from prior injections of contrast medium during this study. Diagnosis: Solitary
extrahepatic portocaudal vena caval shunt. No hepatic vessels were seen. This suggested a poorer-thannormal
prognosis for shunt ligation; however, partial ligation of the shunt resulted radiographically in
increased hepatic blood flow and a resolution of clinical signs.