[Imaging in the diagnosis of vascular complications after hepatic transplantation]

Twenty-nine vascular complications which occurred after 388 hepatic transplantations performed over a 5 year period (14 arterial thromboses, 4 aneurysms and ruptures of the hepatic artery, 8 portal thromboses and 3 peri-anastomosis portal stenoses) were investigated retrospectively in order to determine the role of imagery in diagnosing these vascular complications. The best screening examination for the diagnosis of hepatic artery thrombosis appeared to be pulsed Doppler coupled with echography. It provides a means of selecting candidates for arteriography, the only investigation allowing certain diagnosis of thrombosis. False aneurysms, suspected in cases of severe post-operative sepsis should be investigated with arteriography even if CAT scans and echo-pulsed Doppler imagery is normal. The diagnosis of portal thrombosis and stenosis relies on echo-pulsed Doppler imagery. In these cases, arteriography is carried out before treatment to evaluate the extent of vascular involvement. Thus echography coupled with pulsed Doppler is the best first intention screening examination to be performed whenever a vascular complication is suspected after hepatic transplantation. Nevertheless, arteriography remains the key examination for the diagnosis and evaluation of these complications.