Transvenous coil embolization of an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a dog: a naturally occurring model of portosystemic malformations in humans.

Congenital patent ductus venosus (PDV) occurs far more commonly in dogs than in people; consequently, the natural course of the disease in dogs was studied as a model to understand the pathophysiology behind the vascular anomaly and its response to therapy better. In this report, the authors describe the results of percutaneous coil embolization as a single procedure in a dog with a single congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt and compare portosystemic vascular anomalies (PSVA) seen in dogs with those seen in children.