Arterial abnormalities following orthotopic liver transplantation: arteriographic findings and correlation with Doppler sonographic findings.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-1994
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We studied the findings on conventional arteriography in patients who had suspected graft ischemia after orthotopic liver transplantation to determine the value of a single Doppler signal in predicting these lesions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed selective visceral arteriograms with abnormal findings from 20 adults who had suspected graft ischemia after orthotopic liver transplantation and a single Doppler signal from the hepatic artery at the porta hepatis on sonograms obtained before arteriography. Arteriographic abnormalities were categorized according to morphology and location as follows: stenosis of recipient's hepatic artery, occlusion or stenosis of the transplanted extrahepatic artery, and occlusion or stenosis of the transplanted intrahepatic artery.
RESULTS: Twenty-three arteriographic abnormalities were detected: four recipient celiac axis stenoses, seven extrahepatic occlusions, nine extrahepatic stenoses, and two occlusions and one stenosis of the transplanted intrahepatic artery. Six of the extrahepatic occlusions, two of the extrahepatic stenoses, and none of the recipient artery stenoses or the intrahepatic occlusions or stenoses were correctly diagnosed on the basis of Doppler findings. One patient with both an extrahepatic stenosis and an extrahepatic occlusion was thought to have an intrahepatic occlusion, and two patients with mild (< 50%) extrahepatic stenoses and one with an intrahepatic occlusion were thought to have an extrahepatic occlusion.
CONCLUSION: A wide spectrum of abnormalities in the recipient's celiac axis or the transplanted arteries that may be associated with graft ischemia after orthotopic liver transplantation are often not detected or findings are misinterpreted on routine Doppler examination. In patients with suspected graft ischemia, visceral arteriography should be performed promptly to confirm the diagnosis and to allow early intervention.
Volume
163
Issue
3
First Page
585
Last Page
589
ISSN
0361-803X
Published In/Presented At
Dravid, V. S., Shapiro, M. J., Needleman, L., Bonn, J., Sullivan, K. L., Moritz, M. J., & Gardiner, G. A., Jr (1994). Arterial abnormalities following orthotopic liver transplantation: arteriographic findings and correlation with Doppler sonographic findings. AJR. American journal of roentgenology, 163(3), 585–589. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.163.3.8079850
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
8079850
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article