Abstract
Congenital portosystemic shunts in foals are rare and only a small number of cases have been described. Detailed description of the course of the shunt is lacking in earlier reports. This is the first detailed description of a computed tomography angiography (CTA) displaying an extra-hepatic splenocaval shunt. A 1-month old colt showing increasing signs of dullness, ataxia, circling, lip-smacking and coordination problems was presented. Hyperammonemia was detected and abdominal CTA revealed an extra-hepatic portocaval shunt. During surgery, ligation of the abnormal vessel could not be achieved, and the foal was euthanized because of complications during surgery. CTA provided a detailed overview of portal vasculature. If a portosystemic shunt is suspected in a foal, CTA can be used to confirm the diagnosis and for surgical planning.
Highlights
A portosystemic shunt is an abnormal vessel between the portal venous system and the systemic circulation, bypassing the liver [1, 2]
The imaging techniques used to explore the course of the shunt included ultrasonography, positive contrast portography and computed tomography angiography (CTA) (Table 1)
CT angiography: an abnormal vessel originated from the intrahepatic portion of the portal vein, entering the most ventral aspect of the caudal vena cava immediately caudal to the diaphragm
Summary
A portosystemic shunt is an abnormal vessel between the portal venous system and the systemic circulation, bypassing the liver [1, 2]. In the last 25 years only four cases of portosystemic shunts in foals have been described [3,4,5]. Hyperammonemia was found in all cases, which makes hepatic encephalopathy a likely cause of the clinical signs and imaging of the portal vein was attempted.
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