PERIOPERATIVE DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY - RENAL DETECTION OF RENAL GRAFT PERFUSION

Irreversible damage of renal transplants may be prevented if insuffici ent graft perfusion can be detected perioperatively. Colour and spectr al Doppler ultrasonography were performed in 30 consecutive renal tran splants. The perfusion of the graft and the Resistive Index (RI) were evaluated perioperatively (perioperatively and less than 15 min postop eratively) and 24 h after the operation in all patients. In four cases (13.3%) RI > 0.9 was detected and immediate surgical correction of th e cause led to a normalization (RI < 0.8) in all four cases. A RI < 0. 9 required no intervention in 26 cases (86.7%). All renal grafts in th is series were functioning 1 month postoperatively. In a comparative g roup, 30 consecutive transplants carried out at our institution withou t perioperative Doppler ultrasonography evaluation, a loss of four ren al grafts perioperatively was recorded retrospectively. We conclude th at perioperative ultrasonography Doppler evaluation may provide an eas y applicable and reliable method for early detection of insufficient r enal graft perfusion, allowing surgical correction before irreversible damage of the graft occurs. RI > 0.9 is pathological. A continuation of the study is required to clarify the long-term value of perioperati ve Doppler ultrasonography graft monitoring.