[The role of imaging methods in the pre- and intra-operative evaluation, and in post-operative follow-up of living donors in liver transplantation in Hungary].
The evaluation protocol for liver donors can vary from centre to centre, but the main points are the same. Medical history, physical examination, common laboratory tests and psychosocial evaluation are followed by imaging, and specific haemostasis and viral serology tests. The first imaging examinations have the aim of excluding any disease; conventional chest radiography and abdominal ultrasound are performed. Liver volume, fat content, and vascular and biliary anatomy are then evaluated with contrast-enhanced, multiphase, multidetector row CT/CTA and MR cholangiography. Ultrasound guided liver biopsy, and in some cases digital subtraction angiography, should also be performed. During the first phase of the donor operation, intraoperative investigations are done: cholangiography for the final evaluation of the biliary tree and ultrasound of the hepatic and portal venous system to help draw the resection plane. Donors have regular imaging examinations in the early postoperative period for early detection of complications: mainly US or CT to check the remnant hepatic vascularisation and fluid collections in the operated area, or X-ray for thoracic disorders. It is recommended that regular checkups are performed in the late postoperative period. The paper describes the imaging protocol for donor evaluation applied at our institute at the beginning of our living related liver transplantation programme.
Hartmann
Erika
E
Semmelweis Egyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Transzplantációs és Sebészeti Klinika, Budapest. hartmann.erika@gmail.com
Németh
Andrea
A
Doros
Attila
A
Balázs
György
G
Járay
Jeno
J
D002758:Cholangiography; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed