Medical records were reviewed for breed, sex, age at surgery, shunt anatomy, results of pre- and postoperative biochemical analysis, development of postligation neurologic dysfunction, portal hypertension or other serious complications, and the owners` perception of their animal`s response to surgery.
RESULTS : Ninety-five dogs and all 5 cats had extrahepatic shunts.
Eleven dogs had intrahepatic shunts.
Six dogs (5.5%) died as a result of surgery from portal hypertension (2 dogs), postligation neurologic dysfunction (2), splenic hemorrhage (1) and suspected narcotic overdose (1). Serious complications were more common in dogs with intrahepatic shunts than those with extrahepatic shunts (P=.002).
Postligation neurologic dysfunction necessitated treatment in 10 dogs and 1 cat; 8 dogs and the cat survived.
Clinical signs attributed to portosystemic shunting resolved or were substantially attenuated in all survivors.
Postoperative serum bile acid concentrations or results of ammonia tolerance testing were available for 88 animals; 74 (84%) were normal and 14 (16%) were abnormal. Multiple acquired shunts were documented in two animals.
Thus, cellophane banding is a safe and effective alternative to other methods of attenuation. Slow occlusion of portosystemic shunts using a variety of methods is being evaluated world wide. It is a relatively simple procedure with comparable safety and efficacy to previously reported techniques.
Source: Hunt GB, Kummeling A, Tisdall PL, Marchevsky AM, Liptak JM, Youmans KR, Goldsmid SE, Beck JA. (2004): Outcomes of cellophane banding for congenital portosystemic shunts in 106 dogs and 5 cats. In: Vet Surg. 2004 Jan-Feb;33(1):25-31.
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