Multislice computed tomography angiography in pediatric liver transplantation

Yu Fan Cheng*, Chao Long Chen, Bruno Jawan, Tung Liang Huang, Tai Yi Chen, Yaw Sen Chen, Chih Chi Wang, Vanessa De Villa, Shih Hor Wang, Chiu King Wah, Yuan Cheng Chiang, Hock Liew Eng, Tze Yu Lee, Shigeru Goto

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Preoperative delineation of any vascular anomalies offers planning for possible alteration of surgical procedures, especially in pediatric recipients undergoing living-related liver transplantation. Purpose. We assess the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) multislice computed tomography (CT) angiography in the hope of replacing conventional angiography as the pretransplant evaluation of the hepatic vascular system for potential recipients of liver transplantation. Methods. 3D CT angiography was performed in 38 children with biliary atresia. Conventional angiography was also performed in the first 15 patients. Twelve patients underwent living-related liver transplantation. The findings on 3D CT angiography were compared with conventional angiography and operative findings. Results. 3D CT angiography was successfully performed in 37 pediatric patients. All findings of 3D CT angiography on hepatic artery, portal vein, and inferior vena cava paralleled those of catheter angiography and operative findings. Four patients were unsuitable to receive living grafts because of pathologic insults of the hepatic artery (one patient) and the portal vein (three patients). Three patients were advised to undergo a venous graft for portal anastomoses. Eight patients demonstrated portosystemic shunts that may require closure. Conclusion. 3D CT angiography proves to be a better tool in the demonstration of the vascular system and identification of pathologic insults in pediatric patients. It is superior to conventional angiography because it is less invasive, more convenient, and more efficient in providing thorough preoperative information that would have a major impact on patient selection and surgical planning.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)353-357
Number of pages5
JournalTransplantation
Volume76
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 07 2003
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Multislice computed tomography angiography in pediatric liver transplantation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this