Liver Shunts in Pets
Liver Shunts in Pets
A liver shunt is an abnormal blood vessel that bypasses or “shunts” blood around the liver instead of following the normal pathway through it. The liver is vital for building proteins or removing toxins from the blood, so when the liver is bypassed, toxins and waste continue to circulate throughout the already compromised body. This can stunt your pet’s growth, as well as lead to nervous system problems such as stumbling, seizures, or head pressing. Fortunately, treatments are available that can help correct this defect.
On May 11th, 2022, Dr. Chick Weisse, Service Head of Interventional Radiology and Endoscopy at AMC, discussed the diagnosis and treatment of liver shunts (also known as portosystemic shunts, or PSS). Learn how veterinarians tackle this condition, including the cutting-edge technology that allows for a minimally invasive approach to treatment.
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About the Speaker
Chick Weisse VMD, DACVS
Senior Veterinarian, Specialist in Surgery
Service Head of Interventional Radiology and Endoscopy
Co-Director of The Katharine and William Rayner Interventional Radiology and Endoscopy Service
Dr. Chick Weisse completed his small animal surgical residency training at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. He then pursued advanced training through a customized fellowship in Interventional Radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 2003. He held dual appointments in surgery and radiology as an Assistant Professor at both the veterinary and human hospitals (UPenn) before coming to the Animal Medical Center in 2009 as staff surgeon and Head of the Interventional Radiology Service. Educational interests include expanding minimally invasive veterinary interventional radiology (IR) techniques through describing new procedures and training veterinarians. Research interests include IR techniques for non-resectable and metastatic cancers, palliative stenting for malignant obstructions, vascular anomalies such as portosystemic shunts, and stenting for tracheal collapse.