Abstract
Purpose
Biliary atresia (BA) is diagnosed by ultrasound (US) examination of the hepatic artery and gallbladder. This study was designed to assess the usefulness of the hepatic artery resistance index (HRI) measured by Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) for prognostication of liver viability in children with BA.
Methods
Seventeen patients with non-correctable BA were examined by US and DUS before and after hepatoenterostomy to evaluate hepatic artery dynamics.
Results
Dilatation of the hepatic artery was demonstrated in all 17 patients. US of the gallbladder showed hypogenesis in seven patients. Preoperatively, all 17 BA patients had an HRI of <1.0. Six of the 17 patients underwent liver transplantation. Four of the six had an HRI of >0.9, and the HRI decreased after the procedure. All patients were alive at the time of writing.
Conclusions
Regular US examinations are helpful for diagnosis of BA and for detecting patients at high risk. A prospective study is required to determine the optimal frequency of assessment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AM Murphy RJ Robertson PA Dubbins (1987) ArticleTitleDuplex ultrasound in the assessment of renal transplant complication Clin Radiol 38 229–34 Occurrence Handle3555958 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0009-9260(87)80051-X Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2s3hs1yltw%3D%3D
DM Warshauer KJ Taylor MJ Bia et al. (1988) ArticleTitleUnusual causes of increased vascular impedance in renal transplants: duplex Doppler evaluation Radiology 169 367–70 Occurrence Handle3051113 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1M%2FhslyltQ%3D%3D
ST Kempley HR Gamsu (1992) ArticleTitleSuperior mesenteric artery blood flow velocity in necrotizing enterocolitis Arch Dis Child 67 793–6 Occurrence Handle1519977 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK38zptF2gtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1136/adc.67.7_Spec_No.793
RC Coombs ME Morgan GM Durbin et al. (1992) ArticleTitleAbnormal gut blood flow velocities in neonates at risk of necrotizing enterocolitis J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 15 13–9 Occurrence Handle1403445 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s%2FhvF2gsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1097/00005176-199207000-00003
HB Miere (1993) Doppler Abdominal and general ultrasound EditionNumber1st edn Churchill Livingstone London 67–95
E Broide P Farrant F Reid et al. (1997) ArticleTitleHepatic artery resistance index can predict early death in children with biliary atresia Liver Transplant Surg 3 604–10 Occurrence Handle10.1002/lt.500030609 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c%2FmslCltw%3D%3D
T Nakamura Y Kitamura H Sugawara et al. (1985) ArticleTitleUsage of ultrasound for the diagnosis of biliary atresia J Jpn Soc Pediatr Surg 21 155
R Hada M Sugai M Endoh et al. (1995) ArticleTitleDiagnosis of biliary atresia. Is ultrasound helpful for differentiation between biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis? Hirosaki Med J 46 177–85
DM Evans WN McDicken R Shidmore et al. (1989) Waveform analysis and pattern recognition Doppler ultrasound, physics, instrumentation and clinical application Wiley Chichester 167
S Asthana P McClean MD Stringer (2006) ArticleTitleDoes the pediatric end-stage liver disease score or hepatic artery resistance index predict outcome after transplantation for biliary atresia? Pediatr Surg Int 22 697–700 Occurrence Handle16896815 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00383-006-1737-1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Sugai, M., Endoh, M., Hada, R. et al. Monitoring of hepatic artery resistance index and optimal timing of liver transplantation for biliary atresia. J Med Ultrasonics 34, 11–16 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-006-0117-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-006-0117-8