title: Vascular complications after liver transplantation: evaluation with Doppler US.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the spectral and color Doppler ultrasonography (US) findings that would indicate vascular complications after liver transplantation and to report our single center results of vascular complications detected in liver transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study was consisted of 326 patients who underwent liver transplantation procedures between November 1997 and May 2004. The records of all patients were reviewed retrospectively for the details of each patient's post-transplant Doppler US examinations, visceral angiographic examinations, and/or surgical procedures. Doppler US findings were correlated with angiographic results or surgery. Sensitivity and specificity of Doppler US parameters for the diagnosis of vascular complications of the hepatic artery, portal vein, and hepatic veins were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vascular complications occurred in 47 patients (14%). Eight instances of vascular complications were detected intraoperatively by Doppler US at the time of transplantation. For hepatic artery complications, use of a Doppler US criteria resulted in a sensitivity and a specificity of 92% and 97%, respectively. Doppler US parameters also resulted in a sensitivity and a specificity of 100% in detecting portal vein complications, and resulted in a sensitivity of 99% and a specificity of 100% in detecting hepatic vein complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although it is clear that Doppler US evaluation is an effective choice for diagnosing vascular complications after liver transplantation, we also observed that Doppler US examination plays an important role in detecting vascular complications intraoperatively and improving the patient's chance for a successful outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ege University School of Medicine, Bornova, 35100, Izmir, Turkey. sadiktamsel@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sadik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamsel
authors.forename: Gulgun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demirpolat
authors.forename: Refik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Killi
authors.forename: Unal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeytunlu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parildar
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oran
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ucar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler