Context

Current and dietary management of most dogs with portocaval shunts is palliative rather than curative, and dogs gradually deteriorate as a result of progressive liver atrophy. Although many surgical techniques have been developed, intrahepatic portosystemic shunts was are not totally successful, probably because of the difficulty in isolating the anomalous vessel. However, recent development of transvenous coil embolization provided bright outcome in treatment of intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in small animals.

Objectives

In this study, we performed transvenous coil embolization in dogs with a high grade heart block. After premedication of atropine with butorphanol, the dog was anesthetized with propofol and isoflurane. Intrahepatic shunt was successfully occluded with transembolization coils. The condition of dog was gradually improved.

Key Messages

Transvenous embolization was useful in the treatment of intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in dogs with a conduction disturbance, since this technique allows a progressive closure of the anomalous vessel which avoids portal hypertension and splanchnic congestion and is a less invasive procedure that does not require long periods of anesthesia.