Abstract:
Objective To investigate the clinical application of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of biliary complications after living donor liver transplantation(LDLT).
Methods Ultrasonography was used in 21 cases after right liver LDLT.The ultrasound images of transplanted liver and biliary tract were observed and compared with the result of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage (PTCD).
Results Biliary complications were identified in 7 of the 21 cases by PTCD and clinical follow up. Anastomotic stricture was detected in 5 cases, bile leakage in 1 case, and bile sludge in 1 case. Five cases were accurately diagnosed by ultrasound, including 4 cases with anastomotic stricture and 1 case with bile sludge. Effusion surrounding liver was observed in the case with bile leakage by ultrasound. Moreover, the time when anastomotic stricture was diagnosed by ultrasound was earlier than that when jaundice appeared or serum bilirubin increased in 4 cases.
Conclusions Ultrasonography is a method with convenience, non-invasion, strong repeatability and high accuracy in diagnosis of biliary complications at the early time after LDLT, which has important value of clinical application.