Transjugular coil embolization of an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a cat

Intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are rare vascular anomalies connecting the portal venous system to the systemic circulation; such shunts result in debilitating neurologic, biochemical, and hematologic dysfunction. The prognosis following surgical treatment for cats with intrahepatic portosystemic shunts has not been determined; however, it is unlikely to be more favorable than the prognosis in dogs, for which high perioperative morbidity and mortality rates have been reported. Interventional radiology techniques involving insertion of guidewires, catheters, and coils under fluoroscopic guidance can be safely used to attenuate anomalous vessels in small animals, potentially avoiding complications associated with invasive surgical techniques.