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Intra-abdominal fluid collections after liver transplantation
K E Halliday1, C K Frazer, D Ormonde
1Department of Radiology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Australia.
Australasian Radiology
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Post-liver transplant fluid collections are common. Infected collections pose risks, requiring drainage, while most resolve spontaneously, aided by imaging features that distinguish them from simple fluid.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary Surgery
- Transplant Surgery
- Abdominal Imaging
Background:
- Fluid collections are frequent after orthotopic liver transplantation.
- Most post-transplant fluid collections are sterile and self-resolving.
- Infected collections significantly increase morbidity and mortality, necessitating intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the characteristics and management of fluid collections post-orthotopic liver transplantation.
- To highlight imaging features differentiating infected from non-infected collections.
- To emphasize the challenges in diagnosing infection due to immunosuppression.
Main Methods:
- Review of imaging findings in patients with post-orthotopic liver transplantation fluid collections.
- Correlation of imaging features with clinical outcomes and infection status.
- Analysis of differentiating features between abscesses, bilomas, and simple fluid collections.
Main Results:
- Intrahepatic collections often represent abscesses or bilomas requiring intervention.
- Imaging signs of infection include new gas, wall formation, and surrounding liver changes.
- Immunosuppression can mask typical signs of infection.
Conclusions:
- Prompt recognition and differentiation of infected fluid collections are crucial for optimal patient outcomes.
- Specific imaging features aid in diagnosing infected collections post-transplantation.
- Management strategies should be tailored based on collection type and infection status.