Multimodality Imaging after Liver Transplant: Top 10 Important Complications

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Transplant Surgery
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Liver transplantation is a common procedure with various surgical anastomoses.
• Post-transplant complications can significantly impact graft and recipient health.
• Radiology plays a crucial role in managing liver transplant patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the 10 most critical "not to be missed" complications following liver transplantation.
• To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and management of these complications.
• To discuss the role of various imaging modalities in detecting post-transplant issues.

Main Methods:

• Review of common and devastating liver transplant complications.
• Focus on arterial, venous, and biliary complications.
• Discussion of neoplasms within the hepatic graft.

Main Results:

• Arterial complications, such as hepatic artery thrombosis and splenic artery steal syndrome, are most common and severe.
• Venous complications are less frequent but notable in specific transplant types.
• Biliary complications often stem from arterial ischemia, exemplified by biliary cast syndrome.

Conclusions:

• Arterial complications pose the greatest threat to liver graft viability.
• Timely diagnosis using imaging, particularly ultrasound, is essential for managing liver transplant complications.
• A comprehensive understanding of these complications aids in improving patient outcomes.