Dirk Voet

Modulation of Portal Graft Inflow: A Necessity in Adult Living-donor Liver Transplantation?

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical significance of modulating the recipient portal inflow (rPVF) through perioperative ligation of the splenic artery in adult living-donor liver transplantation (ALDLTx) by focusing on vascular complications, intractable ascites production, and the prevention of small-for-size syndrome (SFSS). Summary Background DataIn ALDLTx, portal graft flow is enhanced to at least twice the donor value, raising the total liver inflow. Recipient hepatic arterial flow (rHAF) is lower than expected. Portal hyperperfusion of small grafts in larger recipients is thought to be one of the main causes of posttransplant graft dysfunction/SFSS. MethodsSeventeen ALDLTx were reviewed for a minimum of 2 months. Patients were divided retrospectively into two groups: G1 (n = 7), without modulation of rPVF, and G2 (n = 10), with splenic artery ligation to decrease rPVF perioperatively. Donor and recipient hepatic hemodynamics were evaluated against graft function and outcome, including correlations between rPVF, graft weight, graft:recipient body weight ratio, and recipient weight. ResultsFollowing portal and arterial reperfusion, mean rPVF and rPVF/graft weight were much higher than in the donors, whereas mean rHAF and rHAF/graft weight were much lower. No differences were found between groups, except for rPVF and rHAF, which were much more higher and lower, respectively, before splenic artery ligation. In G1 patients, SFSS was seen in two patients and vascular complications occurred in two others. In G2 patients, splenic artery ligation permitted a significant decrease in rPVF, an improvement in rHAF, and the resolution of refractory ascites. Neither SFSS nor vascular complications were seen in G2 patients. ConclusionsWhen a suboptimal graft:recipient body weight ratio is accompanied by high rPVF in ALDLTx, the portal flow should be modulated perioperatively; splenic artery ligation is a simple and safe method that is sufficient to allow this modulation in most patients.

Sonographic diagnosis of gas embolism in the portal vein

A case of gas embolism in the portal vein detected by ultrasound is presented. Gas bubbles were characterized by strong reflections in the lumen of the portal vein, moving into the liver. Because they were trapped in the liver parenchyma, the gas bubbles caused strongly echogenic areas, sometimes with acoustic shadows.

Characterization of Cardiovascular Involvement in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum Families

Objective—Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder with involvement of the skin, the retina, and the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular involvement is mainly characterized by mineralization and fragmentation of elastic fibers of blood vessels and premature atherosclerosis. We conducted an ultrasound study to investigate the cardiovascular phenotype and to propose recommendations for the management of patients with PXE and heterozygous ABCC6 mutation carriers. Approach and Results—Thirty-two patients, 23 carriers, and 28 healthy volunteers underwent cardiac and vascular ultrasound studies. Cardiac imaging revealed left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with PXE with a significantly prolonged deceleration time and lower septal early diastolic velocities of the mitral annulus compared with controls. Carriers also demonstrated significantly prolonged deceleration time. Carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity was significantly increased in patients with PXE when compared with carriers and controls. Vascular imaging revealed a high prevalence of peripheral artery disease in both patients and carriers and a significantly higher carotid intima-media thickness compared with controls. Conclusions—The results of this study clearly demonstrate impaired left ventricular diastolic function, impairment of the elastic properties of the aorta, and a high prevalence of peripheral artery disease in patients with PXE. Carriers also seem to exhibit a cardiovascular phenotype with mainly mild diastolic dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis. Increased awareness for cardiovascular events in both patients and heterozygous carriers is warranted.

Detachable Balloon Embolization of an Arterioportal Fistula Following Liver Biopsy in a Liver Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Review of Literature

We report a case of an intrahepatic arterioportal fistula in a 61-year-old female liver transplant recipient. The patient presented with massive ascites 7 months after a percutaneous liver biopsy. A large fistula between the right hepatic artery and the right portal vein was diagnosed on color Doppler ultrasound and confirmed on arteriography. The fistula was successfully embolized with the detachable balloon technique and the ascites resolved. Symptomatic intrahepatic arterioportal fistula in a liver transplant recipient following percutaneous biopsy is rare. Clinical manifestations, surgical or endovascular therapy, and outcome are discussed. The literature on this subject is reviewed.

Non excretory myeloma presenting as a liver nodule on ultrasound.

SummaryA sonographically guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of a well circumscribed echodense liver nodule disclosed a hepatic localization of a malignant plasma cell dyscrasia in a 51-year-old female. On computed tomography (CT) the lesion presented as a hypodense nodule. Further examinations revealed overt non-excretory multiple myeloma with intracellular kappa chains. Differential diagnosis of an echogenic hepatic mass should thus include extramedullary plasmocytoma.

Sonographic diagnosis of an accessory spleen in recurrent idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Recurrence of an idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in a previously splenectomised girl raised the suspicion of an accessory spleen. Abdominal ultrasound examination revealed a well circumscribed mass, caudal to the left kidney. The splenic nature of the mass was confirmed by a radionuclide spleen scan. At surgery an enlarged accessory spleen was removed.

Leptomeningeal cyst: Early diagnosis by color Doppler imaging

A newborn with a leptomeningeal cyst over the anterior fontanelle due to birth trauma is described. Color Doppler flow sonograms were helpful to diagnose the leptomeningocele in its early stages and to differentiate it from a cephalhematoma or subgaleal haemorrhage by demonstrating cerebro-fugal flow in an arterial connection between the extracranial fluid collection and the dural space.

Puncture of thoracic lesions under sonographic guidance.

Thirty-six punctures of thoracic lesions have been performed with a compound B-scanner or a real-time linear-array scanner for guidance. Twenty-three fluid collections were punctured and aspiration biopsies were performed on 13 echogenic lesions. All the punctures were successful at the first attempt. No complications occurred. The results confirm the usefulness of sonography for guiding punctures of thoracic fluid effusions and solid masses. Usually a static B-scanner is sufficient, but when masses are small or surrounded by vital structures puncture may be controlled by a real-time scanner.

SAFETY AND SAMPLE ADEQUACY OF RENAL TRANSPLANT SURVEILLANCE BIOPSIES

Abstract Purpose: To report on the safety and adequacy of surveillance biopsy for detecting subclinical lesions in clinically stable renal grafts. Materials and methods: We established an in-patient surveillance biopsy program with the elective performance of a renal transplant biopsy during the first year after renal transplantation. All biopsies in our centre were performed or supervised by the same operator. Patients were admitted to the hospital the day of biopsy and were discharged after 24h of observation. All patients were biopsied in supine position, using a 16-gauge needle with a spring-loaded gun (Bard®) under real-time ultrasound guidance. Complication rates were retrospectively scored using the patients’ charts and blood counts before and after biopsy. Major complications were defined as those requiring an intervention for resolution, a transfusion of blood products or an invasive procedure (angiography or surgery), and those that led to acute renal obstruction or failure, septicaemia, graft loss or death. In all other cases complications were considered minor. An adequate biopsy was defined as the presence of 7 or more glomeruli and at least one artery in the biopsy specimen. Results: We performed 282 surveillance biopsies in 248 patients between January 2006 and December 2011. None of the complications were major. We observed 6% minor complications (n = 17). 5.6% (n = 16) of the complications were related to bleeding, with macroscopic haematuria as the most common condition (n = 10; 3.5%), followed by pain (n = 6; 2.1%) eighter due to a perinephric hematoma (n = 5) or a subcutaneous hematoma (n = 1). The biopsies contained a median number of 9 glomeruli (range 0-39) with 70% of biopsies containing at least 7 glomeruli and one artery. Conclusion: The procedure for taking surveillance biopsies was proven to be safe. There were no major complications and only rare minor complications. The majority of the samples were adequate for histological examination.

Influence of Isosorbide Dinitrate on Superior Mesenteric Artery Impedance in Humans

SummaryIn a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study the acute effect of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) on the superior mesenteric artery velocity waveform was studied in 10 healthy subjects (mean age 48.2 years) over a 10-minute period. The superior mesenteric artery pulsatility index (PI), which quantifies the blood velocity waveform, increased from the second minute following sublingual administration of 5 mg ISDN (basal PI 4.88±0.32) and reached its upper level (8.22±1.38) from the fourth minute on. In comparison with placebo, the significant rise of PI (second minute) occurred before the significant decrease of systolic blood pressure (ninth minute) and before the significant increase in the heart rate (fourth minute). Diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures remained unchanged. These observations suggest an immediate vasoconstrictive effect of ISDN on the resistance vessels of the vascular bed of the superior mesenteric artery.