Health‐related quality of life following surgical attenuation of congenital portosystemic shunts versus healthy controls. (25th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bristow, P.; Lipscomb, V.; Kummeling, A.; Packer, R.; Gerrits, H.; Homan, K.; Ortiz, V.; Newson, K.; Tivers, M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of small animal practice. Volume 60:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2018-09-25
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12927
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4510

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To design a health‐related quality of life questionnaire for dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts, use it in a cohort of dogs treated with suture attenuation and compare results with those obtained from a healthy control cohort. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from the hospital records of dogs treated with suture ligation of an intrahepatic or extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt at two referral centres. Owners were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their dog's health‐related quality of life preoperatively (retrospectively) and at the time of follow‐up. Owners of control dogs also completed the questionnaire. Results: One hundred and twenty‐eight dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and 131 control dogs were recruited. Median follow‐up time was 64 months (range 19.7 to 157.2). The median long‐term health‐related quality of life score was excellent for both intrahepatic and extrahpatic shunt cases and similar to that of control dogs. The long‐term portosystemic shunt clinical sign scores for both intrahepatic and extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt dogs were significantly worse than the those of the control group. Clinical Significance: Suture attenuation of congenitial portosystemic shunts is associated with an excellent health‐related quality of life score at long‐term follow‐up.