Post-temporary ligation intraoperative mesenteric portovenography: comparison with CT angiography for investigation of portosystemic shunts.

OBJECTIVES: Comparison of pre-operative CT angiography and post-temporary, full-ligation, intraoperative, mesenteric portovenography for the characterisation of intrahepatic portal vasculature in patients with single extrahepatic portosystemic shunts.

METHODS: Descriptive analysis of previously collected images from 14 dogs and five cats.

RESULTS: With the exception of shunts involving the right gastric vein, intrahepatic arborisation appeared similar on both modalities. Portovenography improved contrast enhancement and slightly enlarged the intrahepatic portal vasculature.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: CT angiography cannot replace intraoperative mesenteric portovenography after temporary full ligation, which provides information on intrahepatic portal vascularity. It is a practical and dynamic procedure, providing results that are instantaneously available at the time of surgery. In addition, intraoperative post-temporary, full-ligation, mesenteric portography confirmed that the single shunting vessel had both been recognised and ligated.