Prediction of hepatic artery thrombosis by protocol Doppler ultrasonography in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

Hepatic arterial thrombosis (HAT) after liver transplantation is a life-threatening event. Previous reports have suggested that the resistive index (RI) of the hepatic artery predicts HAT. Doppler ultrasonography (US) to measure RI, however, is not routinely performed. The subjects were 70 pediatric patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Protocol Doppler US was performed once or twice a day for 2 weeks postoperatively and 692 records were examined. Changes in RI values were examined separately in patients with and without HAT complications. The incidence of HAT was 10% (seven of 70). HAT was diagnosed an average of 6.2 days after LDLT. In patients without HAT complications (n = 63), average RI levels at 14 days after LDLT were 0.71 +/- 0.1 (records, n = 625). In patients with HAT complications, RI decreased gradually within 2 days before the onset of HAT. RI values of less than 0.6 predicted HAT within 2 days before onset, with 83% sensitivity and 85% specificity. RI during the first 2 weeks after LDLT is a sensitive predictor for HAT. Thrombectomy and reanastomosis should be considered,when RI values are less than 0.6 in Doppler US.