Classification of portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the omental foramen in dogs.

Objective: To re-evaluate the anatomy and classification of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen.

Material And Methods: A retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs undergoing CT angiography as part of the diagnostic work-up for a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Results: In total, 53 dogs met the inclusion criteria revealing four anatomically distinct omental foramen shunt types; one of which (32 of 53 dogs) showed no shunting blood flow through the right gastric vein and three of which (21 of 53 dogs) involved shunting flow through this vessel. The anatomy of these four distinct shunt types, as defined by CT angiography, was found to be highly consistent. In all cases, regardless of the tributary vessels, the left gastric vein was the final vessel that communicated with the caudal vena cava. Using these findings, a more accurate naming classification for congenital portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen was proposed.

Clinical Significance: A precise pre-treatment anatomical classification of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen is important for a more complete understanding of the severity of clinical signs and prognosis, and for the better communication between clinicians and researchers in this clinical field.