Ultrasonographic identification of canine tiver portal vessels and hepatic veins

Abstract

Objective: To identify the canine hepatic veins and portal hepatic vessels by ultrasonography, evaluating the possibility of hepatic lobe determination based on these vessels in dogs, similar lo human fiver segmentation. Ultrasonography is a good method for evaluation of the liver, giving information on size, shape and parenchymal changes. Although the visualization and differentiation between hepatic veins and portal vessels is possible in dogs, their anatomical identification is difficult and the literature does not describe any methods for hepatic lobe determination. Material and Method: Ultrasound scans were done in 15 five animals - 10 healthy dogs and 5 dogs presenting with right venous congestion. A cadaver was employed for obtainance of a vinyl vascular caste Results and Conclusions: Our results were documented by means of videos and photographs and showed that many of the hepatic veins and vessels of the porto hepatic system are difficult to identify, leading to the conclusion that the human model of segmentation is not adequate for use in dogs. Still, whenever identified these vessels can serve as an aid in lobe determination, once they are important reference anatomical structures