HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Winkler, J. T. Articles by Ballagas, A. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Winkler, J. T. Articles by Ballagas, A. J.

Portosystemic Shunts: Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of 64 Cases (1993–2001)

From the Departments of Clinical Sciences (Winkler, Bohling, Tillson, Ballagas) and Pathobiology (Wright), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849–5523.

Cases diagnosed with portosystemic shunting between the years 1993 and 2001 were reviewed. Sensitivities of screening tests and abdominal ultrasonographic evaluation for the detection of portosystemic shunting were evaluated. Prognosis for surgically treated shunts was also evaluated. Results indicated that both paired serum bile acids and blood ammonia levels were useful screening tests for portosystemic shunting. However, paired bile acid tests were significantly more sensitive than blood ammonia levels. Overall postoperative mortality rates for extrahepatic shunts and intrahepatic shunts were 8.7% and 20%, respectively. Postoperative mortality rates were slightly higher for animals treated with partial ligation when compared to those treated with ameroid ring placement, although this did not reach statistical significance. Long-term complication rates for animals with single extrahepatic portosystemic shunts treated with complete ligation, ameroid ring placement, and partial ligation alone were 9%, 15.4%, and 42%, respectively. Animals >2 years of age with extrahepatic shunts had almost identical postoperative mortality and long-term complication rates as animals 2 years of age. No animal in this study had paired bile acid samples within the reference range postoperatively, indicating continued abnormal liver function after surgery.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. C. Windsor and N. J. Olby Congenital Portosystemic Shunts in Five Mature Dogs With Neurological Signs J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc., November 1, 2007; 43(6): 322 - 331. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]