Ultrasonography in organs transplantation

With steady improvement in grafts survival due to improved efficacy of immunosuppressant protocols, refinement in surgical technique and the establishment of national system for coordination of organ distribution (United Network for Organ Sharing), organ transplantation is increasingly the preferred treatment option for patients with end-stage-renal-liver-pancreas diseases. Organ availability remains a major rate limiting factor. As the number of grafts lost due to rejection, infection and poor surgical technique has decreased, the relative clinical importance of graft loss due to vascular complications has been increasing. Real time ultrasound with power, color and duplex Doppler provides accurate, high resolution images of vascular morphology and (likely) function in organ grafts. In addition, serial exams can be performed without the risks associated with repeated use of intravenous contrast or exposure to ionizing radiation.