Extrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Imaging and Algorithms
Portosystemic shunts in animals are abnormal communications between the portal venous and the systemic venous systems. The shunts can lead to a variety of clinical signs affecting the neurologic, urogenital, and gastrointestinal systems. Diagnosis is usually made via bloodwork and imaging studies. These patients are initially treated medically and then the best outcomes are provided through surgical or interventional therapies that can provide a good prognosis.

A liver shunt is typically diagnosed based on patient signalment and history, physical examination, biochemical testing, and diagnostic imaging studies.

Feline Portosystemic Shunt Anatomical Training Module
The algorithms provided have been developed through extensive evaluation of cross-sectional imaging studies performed through a number of large referral hospitals around the world in order to define an anatomical nomenclature system for these vascular anomalies. The importance of having a uniform, acceptable, and accurate nomenclature system is imperative if we are to compare outcomes for different therapies.

The Portosystemic Shunt Radiology Guide Served By: Chick Weisse, VMD, DACVS is a staff surgeon and director of interventional radiology services at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. His clinical research interests include portosystemic shunt anatomy and associated therapies as well as other interventional radiology techniques including training and expansion of these techniques in veterinary medicine.

Contributors:
Chick Weisse, VMD, DACVS,   Animal Medical Center, NY, NY
K Asano, DVM, PhD, DJCVS & K Ishigaki, DVM – Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
V Lipscomb, MA, VetMB, Dipl. ECVS – Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield Herts, England.
AL Zwingenberger, DVM, DACVR, DipECVDI – University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
KA Carroll, BVetBiol/BVSc (Hons 1) & VF Scharf, DVM, DACVS – NCSU Veterinary Hospital, Raleigh, NC.
FR Vilaplana Grosso, LV, DECVDI, DACVR – College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
E Stock, DVM, ECVDI – University of Gent, Merelbeke, Belgium.
NJ Buote, DVM, DACVS & A Aly – Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY.
D Murgia, DVM, DECVS – Dick White Referrals, U.K.
S Arai, DVM, PhD, DACVS-SA – College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
A zur Linden, DVM, DACVR – OVC, University of Guelph, Canada.
J Gordon, DVM, DACVIM – Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.
M Manassero, DMV, DECVS – Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d’Alfort, France.
T Schwarz, DMV, DACVR, DECVDI – Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, U.K.
ML Wallace, MS, DVM, DACVS-SA – College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
J Graham, DVM, DACVR – Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA.
R Hardie, DVM, DACVS, DECVS – School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
Y Chang, DVM – Mercy Animal Hospital, Kaohsiung city, Taiwan.
M Robbins, DVM, DACVS – Veterinary Specialty Center, Buffalo Grove, IL.
C Bismuth, DMV, DECVS – Veterinary Hospital Fregis, Arcueil, France.
J Karnia, DVM, DACVR – University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center, Columbia, MO.
A Sterman, DVM, DACVS – Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN.
A Saunders, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) – Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX.
V Montinaro, DVM, DECVS – Clinica Veterinaria Malpensa-Anicure, Samarate, Italy.
I Guarnera, DMV, DACVR– Ospedale Veterianrio Portoni Rossi, Bolgna, Italy.
G McLauchlan, BVMS, DECVIM – Fitzpatrick Referrals, Surrey, U.K.
P Cerna, MRCVS – Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Fort Collins, CO.
M Maurin, DVM, DECVS – UCD Veterinary Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
J Aisa, DVM, DECVS – University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN.