The computed tomographic angiography finding of hepatic artery dissection after living donor liver transplantation; what is the clinical significance?

OBJECTIVE

To correlate computed tomography (CT) findings of hepatic artery dissection (HAD) to clinical manifestations of arterial insufficiency and biliary stricture after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

METHODS

Among 737 consecutive patients, we retrospectively reviewed incidence, CT findings, and complications of the HAD.

RESULTS

HADs occurred in 43 patients, exclusively in recipient arteries. Most were resolved with recovery of true lumen without specific treatment. Five patients had insignificant hepatic arterial infarctions, and incidence of biliary stricture did not significantly differ with control group.

CONCLUSIONS

HADs frequently occurred shortly after LDLT. Most HADs spontaneously improved and did not affect incidence of late biliary stricture.