title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound improves hepatic vessel visualization after orthotopic liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated whether color-coded Doppler sonography combined with an ultrasound contrast medium would improve the assessment of liver-supplying vessels after orthotopic liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients after orthotopic liver transplantation participated. Examinations were done without and then with the ultrasound contrast medium Levovist. Visualization of the liver-supplying vessels was assessed with a scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visualization of the portal vein was similar without and with contrast medium. Hepatic arteries were visualized in 39 patients without contrast medium and 46 patients with contrast medium. The remaining patient showed hepatic artery thrombosis, which was confirmed angiographically. With the use of Levovist, the examination took 3.7 min rather than the usual 6.4 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imaging of hepatic arteries after liver transplantation improved significantly with the use of ultrasound contrast medium. These findings are important because the early detection of blood flow through the liver after transplantation affects prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuppan
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011134:Polysaccharides; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508