Detection of Portal Venous Gas by Ultrasonography after Liver Transplantation: A Possible Early Sign of Bacterial Translocation

Takanobu Shigeta, Seisuke Sakamoto, Shunsuke Nosaka, Akinari Fukuda, Hiroyuki Kanazawa, Hajime Uchida, Ikumi Hamano, Mureo Kasahara

Division of Radiology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
Division of Transplant Surgery, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/ojots.2012.23004                

Abstract

This Portal venous gas (PVG) is usually associated with intra-abdominal catastrophe. However, there are some reports regarding benign causes of PVG, including the cases related to organ transplantation. We present 3 cases with PVG undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). All cases simultaneously demonstrated intra-abdominal complications and revealed a bacterial blood culture. We successfully managed all cases with immediate intervention for the possible occurrence of bacterial translocation. Our experience indicates that the detection of PVG by USG is an alarming finding, as a possible early sign of bacterial translocation after liver transplantation. When PVG is detected by USG, it is important to pay prompt attention to bacterial translocation.

Keywords

Liver Transplantation; Portal Venous Gas; Bacterial Translocation

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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