Treatment of portal vein thrombosis using vascular access port implantation in a Dalmatian dog: A case report

Background: Portal vein thrombosis is a disease with potentially deleterious outcomes including portal vein hypertension and intestinal infarction. The factors contributing is various; however, dogs with with acute portal vein thrombosis or multiple thromboses are less likely to survive. Therefore, acute development of portal hypertension has a requires an immediate treatment. Case Description: A 10-year-old Dalmatian was referred for syncope and azotemia, hyperammonemia. After each examinations including computed tomography scan, we diagnosed with acute portal vein thrombosis with unknown cause. A portal vein port was inserted to prevent and control the portal vein thrombus. The port was placed in abdomen subcutaneously after the position of the catheter were stabilized. Low-molecular-weight heparin was injected from the port to manage thrombosis after the operation. This case responded well to this treatment. Syncope and azotemia, hyperammonemia resolved and no relapse of thrombosis was found 6 months after the operation. Conclusion: Implantable vascular access port is a drug delivery system with the advantage of dealing with treatment-resistant acute portal vein thrombosis.