Monitoring of portal vein complications following liver transplantation by color Doppler immage

Objective To explore the value of color Doppler image (CDI) in monitoring of portal vein (PV) complications following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).Methods Pre and post operative CDI examinations were performed on 107 orthotopic liver transplants. Monitoring parameters of CDI included: portal vein diameter (PVD), portal vein velocity (PVV), portal vein flow volume (PVFv), wave form and spectrum of PV, the presence of collaterals and ascites. Results A total of 4 ( 3.7% ) PV complications were identified by PV angiography in 107 recipients, including 2 cases of portal vein stenosis (PVS), 1 PVS combined portal vein thrombosis (PVT), 1 right portal vein (RPV) occlusion. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for PV complications of CDI were 100 % (4/4) and 98.1% (101/103), respectively. We performed percautaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in 2 patients with PVFv remarkably reduced, and conservative treatment in 2 patients without PVFv reduced.Conclusion CDI is a sensitive and specific way of monitoring portal vein complications following OLT and also contributes to the treatment of portal vein complications. The conservative treatment might be effective for the patients with PVFv reduced unremarkably and the presence of collaterals, if not, PTA should be performed as early as possible.