Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts are anomalous vessels joining portal and systemic venous circulation. These shunts are often diagnosed sonographically, but computed tomography (CT) angiography produces high-resolution images that give a more comprehensive overview of the abnormal portal anatomy. CT angiography was performed on 25 dogs subsequently proven to have an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. The anatomy of each shunt and portal tributary vessels was assessed. Three-dimensional images of each shunt type were created to aid understanding of shunt morphology. Maximal diameter of the extrahepatic portosystemic shunt and portal vein cranial and caudal to shunt origin was measured. Six general shunt types were identified: splenocaval, splenoazygos, splenophrenic, right gastric-caval, right gastric-caval with a caudal shunt loop, and right gastric-azygos with a caudal shunt loop. Slight variations of tributary vessels were seen within some shunt classes, but were likely clinically insignificant. Two shunt types had large anastomosing loops whose identification would be important if surgical correction were attempted. A portal vein could not be identified cranial to the shunt origin in two dogs. In conclusion, CT angiography provides an excellent overview of extrahepatic portosystemic shunt anatomy, including small tributary vessels and loops. With minor variations, most canine extrahepatic portosystemic shunts will likely be one of six general morphologies.

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Thin film banding resulted in complete occlusion of many, but not all vessels around which it was placed. Even in dogs with inappropriate band location or with incomplete closure, clinical improvement can be expected based on our results.

Splenocaval shunts caused more clinical abnormalities than did other shunt morphologies. Results suggested that dogs with shunt insertion in the caudal vena cava, especially caudal to the liver, were most likely to have clinical signs.