Surgeons in Pittsburgh area
 

Does anyone have any recommendations for a trustworthy, skilled surgeon in the Pittsburgh area that could perform a liver shunt surgery? In case I can't schedule the surgery in cornell?

If you go the yahoo liver shunt mvd group -- I believe they have some surgeons in PA in their database. You'll have to sign up for the group, and ask them there to help you.

Thank you! i joined the group but am finding it hard to navigate. Yorkietalk is definitely a lot easier!

I sent you a pm...

I agree, I find it hard but they are there and will help. Im so glad you signed up....Did they do the Acid Bile Test. And the Protein C test. Dont asume its a shunt. It may be MVD which can only be treated by nutrition and suppliments..Let us know....

Sorry, I just read your other Thread. I agree with ELLI MAY that Cornell would be your best bet or Dr Tobias at U of T...Contact both and see what can be done...

They didn't do the protein C test but they did do the BAT and saturday was her ultrasound. They think it looks like a large liver shunt but said they could only tell by going in there during surgery.

btw manolos mom, thank you for responding to all my posts. you have been so helpful!

AHWWWW, Thank you, I feel your pain and that baby needs to be with you for the next 20 years....

You can tell if there is a shunt or not without surgery using scintography...

hmm.. i was never given that option.
what can scintigraphy do that ultrasound can't?

Scintography uses radioactive dye and pictures to see if things are bypassing the liver (shunt). The new protocol after a high bile acids test is a Protein C test (blood test sent to Cornell...normal number can mean MVD...number out of normal range indicates large shunt). If that points to a shunt then a scintography is done. Ultrasounds are great for seeing stones, size of liver, etc. but it is only 60-80% accurate for locating shunts and a lot depends on the operator. Scintography is riskier but it's more definitive. Since the ultrasound was done and the vet things a shunt is there, maybe somebody that knows more about it can read the u/s and see what they think. Not many places do scintography, so it isn't widely offered.

PA, Dr. Carlos Hodges Valley Central Vet Referral, 210 Fullerton Avenue, Whitehall, PA 18052 610-435-1553 Yes must be referred by a veterinarian. Has emergency center. specializes in all surgical procedures Appx. $1500
PA, Dr. Carlos Hodges Whitehall, Pennsylvania Valley Central Veterinary Referral near Allentown,
PA, Dr. Chick Weisse, Diplomate. ACVS 3800 SPRUCE STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 (215) 898-4680 YES VETERINARY HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ASST. PROFESSOR OF SOFT TISSUE SURGERY APPROXIMATELY $2300.00
PA, Dr. P. Mayhew University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Matthew Ryan Veterinary Hosptial TN, Dr Karen Tobias Univ of TN, Knoxville YES UT College of Vet. Med. GREAT!! Specializes in LS Research $1200 - $1400 Here are a few names I have found. You need to insist on a Protein C test before you spend all this money on a shunt that may not be there. Im not sure of the address the Protein C test is sent to, but its at Cornell Uni. You can pull up the site in the Yahoo group, Protein C test. I would contact Cornell to get an address and I think it needs to be sent in dry ice. Your Vet will need to do this but you need to give him or her specifics. Good Luck, hope this helped.