Sonographic demonstration of septicaemia with gas-forming organisms after liver transplantation.
Sepsis with gas-forming organisms, e.g. Clostridium perfringens and anaerobic streptococci occurred in three of 120 liver-transplant recipients (2.5%). The diagnosis was made in all three patients by bedside ultrasound, before blood cultures revealed bacterial growth. Floating high amplitude echoes within the extra- and intrahepatic portal veins and persistent small high amplitude echoes in the non-dependent portion of the liver are indicative of portal venous gas and should prompt further laboratory investigations.
Jantsch
H
H
Department of Radiology, Allgemeines Krankenhaus, University of Vienna, Austria.
Barton
P
P
Függer
R
R
Lechner
G
G
Graninger
W
W
Waneck
R
R
Winkler
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography