Prospective Evaluation of the Role of Quantitative Doppler Ultrasound Surveillance in Liver Transplantation

Authors

David Stell, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON
Donal Downey, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON
Paul Marotta, The University of Western Ontario
Edward Solano, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON
Anand Khakhar, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON
Douglas Quan, The University of Western Ontario
Cam Ghent, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON
Vivian McAlister, The University of Western Ontario
William Wall, The University of Western Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2004

Journal

Liver Transplantation

Volume

10

Issue

9

First Page

1183

Last Page

1188

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lt.20231

Abstract

Doppler ultrasound (DUS) is able to measure parameters of blood flow within vessels of transplanted organs, and vascular complications are associated with abnormal values. We analyzed the findings of 51 consecutive patients who underwent DUS on 2 occasions in the first postoperative week following liver transplantation for cirrhosis to determine the range of values in patients following liver transplantation. Three patients developed early vascular thromboses that were detected by the absence of a Doppler signal. In patients making an uneventful recovery, the arterial velocity tended to increase and the resistive index (RI) to decrease during the first postoperative week. All recipients were shown to have high-velocity segments within the hepatic artery, without an increase in flow resistance. Assessment of the portal vein revealed narrowing at the anastomosis, associated with a segmental doubling of flow velocity, and the mean portal venous flow decreased by approximately 20% in the first postoperative week. In conclusion, a wide range of abnormalities occurs in the vessels of liver transplant recipients, which were not associated with the development of vascular complications or affect patient management.