The Value of Superb Microvascular Imaging in Detecting Hepatic Artery Occlusion in Liver Transplantation: A...

Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) is an innovative color Doppler technique that is used to evaluate low-velocity blood flow in particular. Our purpose in this study was to examine the sensitivity and specificity of SMI for assessing occlusion of the hepatic artery after liver transplantation. Ninety-five prospective patients who underwent liver transplantation were included in our study between April 2014 and February 2018. The patients were assessed with color power Doppler sonography and SMI method examinations in this study. Those who were suspected of having hepatic artery occlusion were assessed with computed tomography angiography. Computed tomography angiography was used in all the patients who were suspected of having occlusion of the hepatic artery on power Doppler and SMI method. The hepatic artery was considered to be patent and have normal flow on color Doppler examination in 72 (75.7%) of the total 95 patients. The hepatic artery was not observed in 23 (24.2%) of the patients with color Doppler sonography. In 3 of those 23 patients, arterial flow was detected with power Doppler sonography (31%). The sensitivity of SMI for the detection of hepatic artery occlusion was 100%, the specificity was 97.87%, the positive predictive value was 33.33%, and the negative predictive value was 100%. Thus, SMI is a noninvasive technique that is easy to use and has high sensitivity in patients who have undergone liver transplantation. In patients who are suspected of having hepatic artery occlusion with Doppler ultrasound, SMI can detect hepatic artery occlusion without the need for invasive techniques.