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Zhao NB, Chen Y, Xia R, Tang JB, Zhao D. Prognostic value of ultrasound in early arterial complications post liver transplant. World J Gastrointest Surg 2024; 16:13-20. [PMID: 38328331 PMCID: PMC10845292 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v16.i1.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the primary therapeutic intervention for end-stage liver disease. However, vascular complications, particularly those involving the hepatic artery, pose significant risks to patients. The clinical manifestations associated with early arterial complications following liver transplantation are often nonspecific. Without timely intervention, these complications can result in graft failure or patient mortality. Therefore, early diagnosis and the formulation of an optimal treatment plan are imperative. Ultrasound examination remains the predominant imaging modality for detecting complications post liver transplantation. This article comprehensively reviews common causes and clinical presentations of early hepatic artery complications in the post-transplantation period and delineates abnormal sonographic findings for accurate diagnosis of these conditions. Overall, ultrasound offers the advantages of convenience, safety, effectiveness, and non-invasiveness. It enables real-time, dynamic, and precise evaluation, making it the preferred diagnostic method for post-liver transplantation assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Bo Zhao
- Department of Ultrasound, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen 518112, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen 518112, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Rui Xia
- Department of Thyroid and Hernia Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jian-Bo Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 51800, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Dong Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Organ Transplantation Center, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen 518112, Guangdong Province, China
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Buros C, Dave AA, Furlan A. Immediate and Late Complications After Liver Transplantation. Radiol Clin North Am 2023; 61:785-795. [PMID: 37495287 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Other than rejection, hepatic artery and portal vein thrombosis are the most common complications in the immediate postoperative period with hepatic arterial thrombosis more common and more devastating. Hepatic artery stenosis is more common 1 month after transplantation, whereas portal and hepatic vein stenosis is more often seen as a late complication. Ultrasound is the first-line imaging examination to diagnose vascular complications with contrast-enhanced CT useful if ultrasound findings are equivocal. MR cholangiography is often most helpful in diagnosing bile leaks, biliary strictures, and biliary stones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Buros
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Radiology Suite 200 East Wing, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Atman Ashwin Dave
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Radiology Suite 200 East Wing, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Alessandro Furlan
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Radiology Suite 200 East Wing, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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3
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Klambauer K, Cecatka S, Clevert DA. [Ultrasound diagnostics of the liver : Principles and important pathologies]. RADIOLOGIE (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 63:387-402. [PMID: 37071126 DOI: 10.1007/s00117-023-01138-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma, focal lesions and blood flow in hepatic vessels can be assessed using ultrasound. Screening by ultrasound can be used to detect hepatocellular carcinomas as possible malignant sequelae of liver cirrhosis. As metastases are far more frequent than primary malignant liver tumors, secondary malignant neoplasms should be taken into consideration as a differential diagnosis in the presence of focal liver lesions. This particularly concerns patients with a known metastatic disease. Benign focal liver lesions are often incidentally discovered in women of childbearing age. Cysts, hemangiomas and focal nodular hyperplasia mostly show typical morphological features in ultrasound and do not require further follow-up; however, with hepatic adenomas, regular follow-up is recommended due to the risk of bleeding and/or malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Klambauer
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, München, Deutschland.
| | - Sasa Cecatka
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, München, Deutschland
| | - Dirk-André Clevert
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, München, Deutschland
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Möller K, Braden B, Culver EL, Jenssen C, Zadeh ES, Alhyari A, Görg C, Ignee A, Hocke M, Dong Y, Sun S, Faiss S, Dietrich CF. Secondary sclerosing cholangitis and IgG4-sclerosing cholangitis - A review of cholangiographic and ultrasound imaging. Endosc Ultrasound 2023; 12:181-199. [PMID: 36588352 PMCID: PMC10237613 DOI: 10.4103/eus-d-22-00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sclerosing cholangitis (SC) represents a spectrum of chronic progressive cholestatic diseases of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic biliary system characterized by patchy inflammation, fibrosis, and stricturing. Primary and secondary SC must be distinguished given the different treatment modalities, risks of malignancy, and progression to portal hypertension, cirrhosis, and hepatic failure. This review focuses on secondary SC and the pathogenic mechanisms, risk factors, clinical presentation, and novel imaging modalities that help to distinguish between these conditions. We explore the detailed use of cholangiography and ultrasound imaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Möller
- Medical Department I/Gastroenterology, Sana Hospital Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany
| | - Barbara Braden
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Emma L. Culver
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Christian Jenssen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Krankenhaus Märkisch Oderland GmbH, Strausberg, Wriezen, Germany
- Brandenburg Institute of Clinical Medicine at Medical University Brandenburg, Neuruppin, Germany
| | - Ehsan Safai Zadeh
- Interdisciplinary Center of Ultrasound Diagnostics, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Amjad Alhyari
- Interdisciplinary Center of Ultrasound Diagnostics, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Görg
- Interdisciplinary Center of Ultrasound Diagnostics, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - André Ignee
- Department of Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology and Rheumatology; Klinikum Wuerzburg Mitte, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Hocke
- Medical Department II, Helios Klinikum Meiningen, Meiningen, Germany
| | - Yi Dong
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyu Sun
- Department of Endoscopy Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Siegbert Faiss
- Medical Department I/Gastroenterology, Sana Hospital Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph F. Dietrich
- Department of Internal Medicine (DAIM), Hirslanden Private Hospital, Beau Site, Salem und Permanence, Bern, Switzerland
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Khot R, Morgan MA, Nair RT, Ludwig DR, Arif-Tiwari H, Bhati CS, Itani M. Radiologic findings of biliary complications post liver transplantation. ABDOMINAL RADIOLOGY (NEW YORK) 2023; 48:166-185. [PMID: 36289069 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-022-03714-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Liver transplantation is a potentially curative treatment for patients with acute liver failure, end-stage liver disease, and primary hepatic malignancy. Despite tremendous advancements in surgical techniques and immunosuppressive management, there remains a high rate of post-transplant complications, with one of the main complications being biliary complications. In addition to anastomotic leak and stricture, numerous additional biliary complications are encountered, including ischemic cholangiopathy due to the sole arterial supply of the bile ducts, recurrence of primary biliary disease, infections, biliary obstruction from stones, cast, or hemobilia, and less commonly cystic duct remnant mucocele, vanishing duct syndrome, duct discrepancy and kinking, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, retained stent, and ampullary dysfunction. This article presents an overview of biliary anatomy and surgical techniques in liver transplantation, followed by a detailed review of post-transplant biliary complications with their corresponding imaging findings on multiple modalities with emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging and MR cholangiopancreatography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachita Khot
- Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Matthew A Morgan
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rashmi T Nair
- Department of Radiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Daniel R Ludwig
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Hina Arif-Tiwari
- Department of Medical Imaging, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Chandra S Bhati
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Malak Itani
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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Brookmeyer CE, Bhatt S, Fishman EK, Sheth S. Multimodality Imaging after Liver Transplant: Top 10 Important Complications. Radiographics 2022; 42:702-721. [PMID: 35245104 DOI: 10.1148/rg.210108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Patients who have undergone liver transplant are now regularly seen in day-to-day radiology practice. All surgical techniques for liver transplant require arterial, portal venous, hepatic venous and caval, and biliary anastomoses. This review is focused on the 10 "not to be missed" complications of liver transplant that affect the health and life of the graft and graft recipient. Arterial complications are the most common and devastating. Early hepatic artery thrombosis may be catastrophic because the biliary tree is solely dependent on the hepatic artery after transplant and collateral vessels have not yet formed. In contrast, delayed hepatic artery thrombosis may be more insidious as collateral arteries develop. US findings of delayed hepatic artery thrombosis may be similar to those of hepatic artery stenosis and celiac artery stenosis. Splenic artery steal syndrome is an increasingly recognized cause of graft ischemia. Venous complications are much less common. Hepatic venous and caval complications are notable for their increased incidence in living-donor and pediatric transplants. Biliary complications often result from arterial ischemia. Biliary cast syndrome is a notable example in which ischemic biliary mucosa sloughs into and obstructs the duct lumens. Neoplasms also may occur within the hepatic graft and may be due to recurrent malignancy, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder, or metastases. US is the initial imaging modality of choice, particularly in the acute postoperative setting. Further evaluation with contrast-enhanced US, CT, or MRI; catheter angiography; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; and/or nuclear medicine studies is performed as needed. An invited commentary by Bhargava is available online. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Brookmeyer
- From the Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21287 (C.E.B., E.K.F.); Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla (S.B.); and Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY (S.S.)
| | - Shweta Bhatt
- From the Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21287 (C.E.B., E.K.F.); Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla (S.B.); and Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY (S.S.)
| | - Elliot K Fishman
- From the Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21287 (C.E.B., E.K.F.); Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla (S.B.); and Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY (S.S.)
| | - Sheila Sheth
- From the Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21287 (C.E.B., E.K.F.); Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla (S.B.); and Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY (S.S.)
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7
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Mohamed Afif A, Anthony APM, Jamaruddin S, Su'aidi SU, Li HH, Low ASC, Cheong EHT. Diagnostic accuracy of Doppler ultrasound for detecting hepatic artery stenosis after liver transplantation. Clin Radiol 2021; 76:708.e19-708.e25. [PMID: 33902885 DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2021.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Doppler ultrasound (DUS) in detecting hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) after liver transplantation using computed tomography angiography (CTA) as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included data from January 2005 to November 2017, where DUS of the hepatic artery of living and deceased donor liver grafts were compared with the reference standard, CTA. DUS parameters, such as intrahepatic artery (IHA) peak systolic velocity (PSV), resistive index (RI), systolic acceleration time (SAT); and extrahepatic artery (EHA) PSV were taken. The optimum cut-off was estimated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was developed to predict HAS. RESULTS Ninety-nine liver transplant cases were retrieved, 50 met the inclusion criteria where nine patients had significant HAS. HAS patients had a significantly low IHAPSV with a cut-off of 35.1 cm/s (sensitivity 53.8%, specificity 78.4%, AUC 0.701). IHARI had a significantly low RI with a cut-off 0.585 (sensitivity 86.7%, specificity 85.4%, AUC 0.913). The IHASAT cut-off was 0.045 seconds (sensitivity 80%, specificity 91.4%, AUC 0.857). The EHAPSV cut-off was 197.4 cm/s (sensitivity 50%, specificity 99.1%, AUC 0.648). The prediction model using DUS parameters IHARI and IHASAT demonstrated good discrimination with an AUC of 0.930 (95% CI: 0.843, 1.000; sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 88%). CONCLUSION A prediction model using the DUS parameters IHARI and IHASAT showed good diagnostic accuracy of 88.6% for monitoring liver transplant patients. If validated externally, this DUS model could be utilised to diagnose HAS in liver transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mohamed Afif
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
| | - A P M Anthony
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - S Jamaruddin
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - S U Su'aidi
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - H H Li
- Department of Health Serviced Research Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - A S C Low
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - E H T Cheong
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
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