The value of color Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosing complication of orthotopic liver transplantation

Objective To evaluate the value of color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of complication of orthotopic liver transplantation.Methods Forty one patients after orthotopic liver transplantation were examined with color Doppler flow imaging to observe hepatic blood flow and change of ultrasonography of hepatic parenchyma and biliary duct.The measured indexes included the maximum blood flow velocity(V max ),time average blood flow velocity(V mean ),resistance index(RI) and diameter of biliary duct.Results ①Seventeen patients ( 41.5% ) occurred liver allograft rejection.Decrease of V max of portal vein were detected in 13 of 17 patients( 76.4% ); Low amplitude of blood flow velocity of hepatic vein was detected in 15 of 17 patients( 88.25% ) and they showed negative serrated wave or negative two waves; Increasing hepatic arterial resistance index were detected in 9 of 17 patients( 52.9% ); Slight dilated bile duct was detected in 5 of 17 patients( 29.4% ).②Five of 41 patients( 12.2% ) with hepatic arterial thrombosis in the postoperative period showed disappearance of blood flow of hepatic artery around portal vein.In addition,operation of equipment and a few false negative or positive findings must be recognized.③Dilatation of intrahepatic biliary duct in the early period after liver transplantation was found in 3 patients( 7.3% ).Dilatation of intrahepatic biliary duct were slight and appeared within 2 weeks after liver transplantation.Twenty patients( 48.8% ) with dilatation of in trahepatic biliary duct were detected.The cause of dilatation of biliary duct was due to biliary stricture in 2 patients(20%),stone in 15 patients(75%) and other in 3 patients(15%).Conclusions Color Doppler ultrasonography is a valuable characteristic for diagnosing complication of liver transplantation.