2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

A retrospective review of medical records from the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania from 1989 to 2016 was performed. Cases were included if clinical signs and ultrasonographic findings were consistent with pancreatitis and extrahepatic bile duct obstruction was suspected based on ultrasonographic common bile duct dilation of greater than 3 mm and presence of hyperbilirubinemia. Cases were excluded if another cause for bile duct obstruction was identified, or if the medical record was incomplete. Medical records were searched for physical examination findings, clinicopathologic data, diagnostic imaging findings, treatment and outcome. Referring veterinarians were contacted when necessary for information regarding survival. Median survival times were determined by the use of the Kaplan-Meier product limit method and Cox multivariable survival methods were employed to determine which factors were associated with survival time following diagnosis.