Value of ordinary color Doppler flow imaging in the diagnosis of hepatic artery thrombosis in early stage after pediatric liver transplantation

  Objective   To study the value of ordinary color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in the diagnosis of hepatic artery thrombosis(HAT) in early stage after pediatric liver transplantation(PLT).

  Methods   Clinical data of 55 children undergoing PLT in the General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces from April 2005 to May 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Conventional hemodynamic monitoring was performed in all cases in the early stage after operation by CDFI. No intrahepatic arterial blood flow signal was observed by CDFI multi-angle examination and HAT was suspected. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and surgical exploration were performed in the suspected HAT patients. The sensitivity and specificity of ordinary CDFI in diagnosing HAT were calculated by Chiss statistical software.

  Results   Among the 55 PLT recipients, 3 cases were suspected as HAT by CDFI, including 2 cases of HAT in the main hepatic artery, 1 cases of HAT in the right hepatic artery. All cases were confirmed by CTA or surgical exploration. The incidence of HAT was 5% (3/55). No false positive HAT was observed. The sensitivity and the specificity of CDFI in diagnosing HAT after PLT were both 1.0, and false positive rate was 0.

  Conclusion   Ordinary CDFI is the preferred and main method for hemodynamic examination after PLT. The experienced sonographer for transplantation can improve the accuracy in diagnosing HAT.