Classification of portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the omental foramen in dogs

White, R.N.; Warren-Smith, C.; Shales, C.; Parry, A.T.

Abstract

Objective

To re‐evaluate the anatomy and classification of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen.

Material and Methods

A retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs undergoing CT angiography as part of the diagnostic work‐up for a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Results

In total, 53 dogs met the inclusion criteria revealing four anatomically distinct omental foramen shunt types; one of which (32 of 53 dogs) showed no shunting blood flow through the right gastric vein and three of which (21 of 53 dogs) involved shunting flow through this vessel. The anatomy of these four distinct shunt types, as defined by CT angiography, was found to be highly consistent. In all cases, regardless of the tributary vessels, the left gastric vein was the final vessel that communicated with the caudal vena cava. Using these findings, a more accurate naming classification for congenital portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen was proposed.

Clinical Significance

A precise pre‐treatment anatomical classification of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen is important for a more complete understanding of the severity of clinical signs and prognosis, and for the better communication between clinicians and researchers in this clinical field.

Citation

White, R., Warren-Smith, C., Shales, C., & Parry, A. (2020). Classification of portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the omental foramen in dogs. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 61(11), 659-668. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13209

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 8, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 9, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Deposit Date: Jul 29, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 10, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Small Animal Practice
• Print ISSN: 0022-4510
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 659-668
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13209
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4794337
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jsap.13209
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: White, R., Warren-Smith, C., Shales, C., & Parry, A. (2020). Classification of portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the omental foramen in dogs. Journal of Small Animal Practice, https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13209 , which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jsap.13209. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.