Contrast-enhanced ultrasound detects perfusion defects in an ex vivo porcine liver model: a useful tool for the study of hepatic reperfusion

• Published in: Journal of artificial organs Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 475 - 482
• Main Authors: Alzaraa, Ahmed, Al-Leswas, Dhya, Chung, Wen Yuan, Gravante, Gianpiero, Bruno, Morgan, West, Kevin, Dennison, Ashley, Lloyd, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer Japan 01.12.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allografts; Animals; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Cardiac Surgery; In Vitro Techniques; Liver - blood supply; Liver - diagnostic imaging; Liver - pathology; Liver Transplantation; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nephrology; Original Article; Perfusion; Phospholipids; Sulfur Hexafluoride; Swine; Ultrasonography; Contrast agents; Ischemia; Ultrasound; Liver; Transplant
• ISSN: 1434-7229; 1619-0904
• DOI: 10.1007/s10047-013-0717-1

Following transplantation, areas of hypoperfusion can be associated with metabolic changes and poor organ recovery. Our study evaluated contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) agents for the detection of such areas. Livers were collected from ten pigs, connected to extracorporeal circuits and perfused using autologous blood. After 1 and 4 h livers were scanned with an ultrasound machine following the administration of CEUS agents. Biopsies from perfused and non-perfused areas were collected. The entire parenchyma enhanced strongly on non-contrast ultrasound at 1 h with no perfusion defects. Four hours later multiple perfusion defects manifested not evident with non-contrast ultrasound. Histology confirmed non-perfused areas corresponded to ischemic zones. In our model the addition of CEUS revealed perfusion defects after 4 h. This might facilitate detection and characterization of perfusion defects in transplanted livers.