Diagnostic Value of Color Doppler Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Artery Steal Syndrome After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the application of color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) in the early diagnosis of arterial steal syndrome (ASS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). A total of 1827 patients received OLT in our department between January 2007 and December 2021, and CDU and CEU were performed after surgery. Ultrasonographic data were collected and further analyzed. ASS was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and the use of splenic artery embolization was dependent on the DSA findings and clinical conditions. The ultrasonographic data were collected before and after embolization. ASS was found in 23 patients (23/1827; 1.26%). CDU: the portal vein velocity was higher than normal in 17 patients (52.83±21.74 cm/s); the hepatic artery flow signals disappeared in 7 patients; the hepatic artery velocity was 13.57±5.85 cm/s in 16 patients. In 23 patients, the spleen artery velocity was 170.12±32.04 cm/s. CEU: the hepatic artery was observed in 7 patients without hepatic artery flow signals on CDU; in 23 patients, the contrast agent reached the portal vein at the presence of contrast in the hepatic artery or earlier (difference: 2.21±1.09 s). Splenic artery embolization was done in 17 of 23 patients with ASS. The hepatic artery flow velocity, hepatic artery resistance index, splenic artery velocity and time to the presence of contrast were significantly improved after embolization (P<0.05). CDU and CEU are the preferred, effective tools in the diagnosis of ASS. Reduced peak hepatic artery velocity, increased spleen artery velocity and reduced time difference in the contrast reaching the portal vein and hepatic artery are indicative of ASS.