Portosystemic shunt

The Portosystemic shunt, short- PSS is a vascular connection ( = shunt) between the portal vein, which blood from the intestines, stomach and spleen collects and feeds the liver, and the inferior vena cava ( IVC ).

Therapeutically, it is usually applied to reduce a portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis, in order to avoid a deadly esophageal varices. The disadvantage is that with this blood bypasses the liver and not detoxified. This can lead to portal or hepatic encephalopathy.

Types that were created surgically: portocaval anastomosis, splenorenal anastomosis, distal splenorenaler shunt ( Warren shunt ). Today, specialist radiologists can also minimally invasive create a portocaval shunt.

Sometimes the term portosystemic shunt is also used to draw attention to the existence of a spontaneously forming bypass circuit on the portocaval anastomosis ( esophageal varices, umbilical veins, hemorrhoids), but does not lead to sufficient Pfortaderdrucksenkung.

PSS in veterinary medicine

In veterinary medicine, inherited portosystemic shunts are described in the dog and cat, the inheritance depending on the breed can be different. Basically, the extrahepatic shunts polygenic inheritance, whereas the intrahepatic shunts are simple autosomal recessive trait. Extrahepatic shunts are described especially in small dogs, terriers and British Shorthair Cat; intrahepatic shunts, especially for large breeds.

• Hepatology
• Therapeutic procedures in gastroenterology
• Invasive therapeutic procedures
• Disease symptom