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Anatomy of the patent ductus venosus in the cat
1Davies White Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3HR, UK.
Insights
Researchers reviewed portovenograms of cats with intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Findings reveal consistent anatomy, suggesting a specific type of shunt in cats mirrors the patent ductus venosus (PDV) seen in dogs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Comparative Anatomy
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are congenital anomalies affecting portal circulation.
- Left divisional shunts in cats present unique anatomical challenges.
- Previous studies have described various portosystemic shunts, but specific classifications in felines require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the anatomy of left divisional intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in cats.
- To compare feline shunt anatomy with canine patent ductus venosus (PDV).
- To determine if feline shunts can be appropriately classified as PDV.
Main Methods:
- Review of biplanar mesenteric vein portovenograms from 10 cats with left divisional intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.
- Post-mortem creation of a corrosion cast of the hepatic portal vasculature from one affected cat.
- Combined analysis of surgical, post-mortem, and imaging data.
Main Results:
- Consistent anatomical features were identified in all reviewed feline shunts.
- Shunts featured a straight vessel draining into a venous ampulla before entering the caudal vena cava.
- The left phrenic and left hepatic veins independently joined the venous ampulla.
Conclusions:
- The anatomical findings in cats with left divisional intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are highly consistent.
- The identified anatomy closely resembles the patent ductus venosus (PDV) in dogs.
- It is appropriate to classify this specific type of feline portosystemic shunt as a PDV, facilitating comparative understanding and treatment strategies.
Abstract:
The biplanar mesenteric vein portovenograms of 10 cats with left divisional intrahepatic portosystemic shunts consistent with a patent ductus venosus (PDV) were reviewed. A corrosion cast of the hepatic portal vasculature was made post mortem from one individual that died post operatively following surgical attenuation of the shunting vessel. On the basis of the combined surgical, post mortem and imaging data, these left divisional shunts were found to have consistent anatomy, each having a straight vessel which drained into a venous ampulla before draining into the caudal vena cava at the level of the diaphragm. The left phrenic vein and left hepatic vein both entered the ampulla independently of the shunting vessel. The anatomical similarity between these findings in the cat and the PDV in the dog suggest that it is appropriate to describe this particular portosystemic shunt as a PDV.