The role of sonography and transhepatic cholangiography in the diagnosis of biliary complications after liver transplantation

• Published in: American journal of roentgenology (1976) Vol. 151; no. 5; pp. 943 - 946
• Main Authors: Zemel, G, Zajko, AB, Skolnick, ML, Bron, KM, Campbell, WL
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leesburg, VA Am Roentgen Ray Soc 01.11.1988; American Roentgen Ray Society
• Subjects: Biliary Tract Diseases - diagnosis; Biliary Tract Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Biliary Tract Diseases - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cholangiography; Humans; Liver Transplantation; Liver, biliary tract, pancreas, portal circulation, spleen; Medical sciences; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Ultrasonography; Leakage; Sonography; Human; Postoperative; Biliary tract; Cholangiography; Radiodiagnosis; Ultrasonic investigation; Liver; Surgical anastomosis; Stenosis; Homotransplantation; Percutaneous route; Lithiasis; Digestive diseases; Diagnosis; Obliteration
• ISSN: 0361-803X; 1546-3141
• DOI: 10.2214/ajr.151.5.943

We retrospectively reviewed the results of real-time sonography in 41 patients in whom biliary complications after liver transplantation were documented by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Abnormalities included bile duct stricture (26 cases), occluded internal biliary stent (six cases), common duct redundancy with resultant functional biliary obstruction (three cases), bile leak (three cases), choledocholithiasis (two cases), and an abscess in a cystic duct remnant (one case). Sonography was abnormal in 22 of the 41 cases (sensitivity, 54%). Bile duct dilatation was the positive sonographic finding in 19 (86%) of the 22 abnormal examinations. In the remaining 19 patients, sonography was normal. Sonography is not a reliable test for the early detection of biliary abnormalities after liver transplantation. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography should be performed in patients with suspected biliary complications after liver transplantation.