A comparison of the ameroid constrictor versus ligation in the surgical management of single extrahepatic portosystemic shunts

Twenty-two dogs were managed surgically for a single extrahepatic portosyst emic shunt; 12 with surgical ligation and 10 with an Ameroid constrictor. U tilization of the Ameroid constrictor significantly decreased surgery time to approximately half that of the ligation technique. A decreased intraoper ative and postoperative complication rate was noted with the Ameroid constr ictor group. Follow-up evaluation demonstrated comparable efficacy when com paring surgical techniques. The Ameroid constrictor offered a surgical occl usion technique for management of a single extrahepatic portosystemic shunt that was equally effective to ligation while shortening surgical time and minimizing the risks that are commonly associated with ligation of the shun ting vessel.