SURGICAL CREATION OF PORTACAVAL SHUNTS DURING TEMPORARY INTESTINAL ARTERIAL AND VENOUS OCCLUSION IN DOGS

Objective-To surgically create complete portacaval shunts in dogs duri ng temporary arrest of intestinal arterial acid portal venous blood fl ow. Design-Complete portacaval anastomoses were surgically created, an d liver function was evaluated for 14 to 18 weeks after surgery. Anima ls-32 adult mixed-breed dogs of either sex. Procedure-Administration o f deferoxamine and temporary intestinal arterial occlusion were used t o minimize the intestinal cellular damage resulting from the complete, temporary arrest of portal venous blood flow during creation of the p ortacaval anastomosis. Side-to-side, appositional anastomoses (> 2 cm diameter) were formed between the portal vein and caudal vena cava. Do gs were observed daily for signs of hepatic encephalopathy, and food i ntake was recorded. Body weight was recorded weekly. Preprandial plasm a ammonia, serum urea nitrogen, and glucose concentrations and sulfobr omophthalein retention were measured monthly. The dogs were euthanatiz ed, and necropsy was performed 14 to 18 weeks after surgery. Results-3 0 of 32 dogs recovered without complications. Complete portosystemic s hunting was documented by increased plasma ammonia concentration, decr eased serum urea nitrogen and glucose concentrations, prolonged sulfob romophthalein retention (P < 0.01), and inspection at necropsy. Conclu sion-This method of providing temporary, complete arrest of portal ven ous blood flow was helpful in allowing accurate, appositional portacav al anastomoses to be created that remained patent for 14 to 18 weeks. Clinical Relevance-This method of providing temporary, complete arrest of portal venous blood flow may prove useful in clinical surgery when temporary arrest of portal blood flow is desired.