HEPATIC-ARTERY THROMBOSIS AND INFARCTION - EVOLUTION OF THE ULTRASOUND APPEARANCES IN LIVER-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Hepatic infarction is a serious complication of liver transplantation, causing significant morbidity and mortality and often requiring retra nsplantation. Real time ultrasonography with Doppler examination is of ten the first imaging modality employed to investigate post-operative complications. We report on the sonographic appearances of three patie nts in whom hepatic infarction followed transplantation but who did no t require retransplantation, allowing us to study the evolution of son ographic features. Geographic areas of decreased echogenicity with pre servation of the portal tracts are an early sign of hepatic ischaemia and may either resolve completely or progress to true infarction with the development of transient small hyperechoic lesions. Calcification may also occur quite rapidly. Biliary strictures, bilomas and abscess formation are later complications.