Diagnostic Value of Ultrasound in Detection of Biliary Tract Complications After Liver Transplantation

AuthorAndrej Potthoffen
AuthorAnreas Hahnen
AuthorStefan Kubickaen
AuthorAndrea Schneideren
AuthorJochen Wedemeyeren
AuthorJuergen Klempnaueren
AuthorMichael Mannsen
AuthorMichael Gebelen
AuthorBita Boozarien
Issued Date2013-01-20en
AbstractBackground: Biliary complications are significant source of morbidity after liver transplantation (LT). Cholangiography is the gold standard for diagnosis and specification of biliary complications. Objectives: Detailed analyses of ultrasound (US) as a safe imaging method in this regard are still lacking. Therefore we analyzed systematically the diagnostic value of US in these patients. Patients and Methods: Retrospectively, 128 liver graft recipients and their clinical data were analyzed. All patients had a standardized US examination. The findings of US were compared to cholangiographic results in 42 patients. Following statistical analyses were performed: descriptive statistics, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV). Results: 42 patients had 54 different biliary complications (Anastomotic stenosis (AS) n = 33, ischemic type biliary lesions (ITBL) n = 18 and leakage n = 3). US detected n = 22/42 (52%) patients with biliary complications. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of US were: 61%, 100%, 100%, 79% (95CI, 36-86%) for ITBL and 24%, 100, 100%, 31% (95CI, 9-46 %) for AS, respectively. Conclusions: US examination had no false positive rate. Therefore, it may be helpful as a first screening modality. But for the direct diagnosis of the biliary complication US is not sensitive enough.en
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.6003en
KeywordComplicationsen
KeywordLiver transplantationen
KeywordCholangiographyen
PublisherBrieflandsen
TitleDiagnostic Value of Ultrasound in Detection of Biliary Tract Complications After Liver Transplantationen
TypeResearch Articleen

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