Surgical treatment of concomitant congenital left gastro-azygos and extrahepatic umbilico-caval portosystemic shunts in a dog.

Abstract

A 6-month-old intact male English bull terrier dog was presented with chronic intermittent gastrointestinal signs followed by acute central nervous deficits. The dog was diagnosed, using computed tomography angiography, with concomitant congenital extrahepatic left gastro-azygos portosystemic shunt and extrahepatic umbilico-caval shunt; these were surgically attenuated with a complete silk suture ligation and placement of an Ameroid constrictor, respectively. The surgical outcome was successful and long-term follow-up was excellent. Key clinical message: This case report describes the features of 2 rare, concurrent congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in a dog and their successful surgical attenuation. This clinical presentation is rare, but advanced cross-sectional imaging allows for adequate diagnosis and strategic surgical planning.