Outcomes of cellophane banding or percutaneous transvenous coil embolization of canine intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.

Objective: To compare clinical outcomes of dogs with congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (CIHPSS) treated with cellophane banding (CB) or percutaneous transvenous coil embolization (PTCE).

Study Design: Dual-institutional retrospective study.

Animals: Fifty-eight dogs with CIHPSS (2001-2016).

Methods: Medical records of dogs undergoing CB or PTCE for CIHPSS were reviewed for signalment, body weight, hematologic values, shunt location, attenuation technique, procedure time, duration of hospitalization, complications, date of follow-up, and cause of death if applicable.

Results: Thirty-one dogs underwent CB, and 27 dogs underwent PTCE. No differences were detected between groups for gender, preoperative packed cell volume, albumin, cholesterol, or bile acids. Body weight was greater in dogs treated via PTCE. Shunts differed in location because dogs undergoing CB were diagnosed with more left divisional shunts compared with PTCE dogs. Procedural duration of CB and PTCE did not differ. Dogs treated with CB sustained more minor postoperative complications and were hospitalized longer than dogs treated with PTCE. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 89% for the CB group and 87% and 80% for the PTCE group, respectively. The proportion surviving at 5 years was 75% and 80% for CB dogs and PTCE dogs, respectively.

Conclusion: CB and PTCE are associated with similar short-term and intermediate-term survival. PTCE is a minimally invasive alternative to CB via celiotomy. However, CB allows concurrent abdominal procedures requiring the same approach.