Surgical management of a cat with hepatic arterioportal fistula

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Cardiology
• Surgical Management

Background:

• Feline hepatic arterioportal fistula is a rare vascular anomaly.
• Congenital or acquired fistulas can lead to significant cardiovascular compromise.

Observation:

• A 9-month-old cat presented with stunted growth, chronic gastrointestinal signs, tachypnea, heart murmur, and abdominal bruit.
• Echocardiography indicated volume overload in all cardiac chambers.
• CT angiography revealed an abnormal communication between hepatic arteries and the portal vein, alongside multiple acquired shunts.

Findings:

• Successful surgical ligation of the abnormal vascular communication was performed.
• Post-operative echocardiography showed improved cardiac parameters.
• The cat remained clinically normal for 39 months following the intervention.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates the first successful surgical management of a feline hepatic arterioportal fistula.
• Surgical intervention can effectively resolve cardiovascular abnormalities associated with this condition in cats.
• This highlights a potential treatment option for similar complex vascular anomalies in veterinary patients.