USE OF INTRAOPERATIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHY DURING HEPATIC TRANSPLANTATION

The aim of this study was to evaluate if intraoperative vascular ultra sonography is of clinical value in the perioperative management of hep atic transplant patients. Fifteen intraoperative ultrasonographic exam inations were performed on 13 patients (five female, eight male) durin g transplantation. These patients had clinically suspected vascular co mpromise. Among the 13 patients studied intraoperatively, five were co rrectly diagnosed as having hemodynamically significant vascular compr omise. Of the intraoperative vascular sonographic examinations, the re sults of 13 were in concordance with the surgical impression as to whe ther further intervention was necessary or if the procedure could be t erminated. Intraoperative sonography demonstrates potential to be of a id to the surgeon in recognition of vascular compromise.