Early postoperative duplex ultrasound findings of the hepatic artery in postoperative vascular complications from paediatric liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate duplex US findings of the HA in all three postoperative vascular (HA, PV, HV and IVC) complications of paediatric LT for early detection and some helpful secondary signs to determine these vascular complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data from 44 post-LT paediatric patients who underwent daily duplex US for seven consecutive days and three months after LT during January 2017-June 2020. Four duplex US parameters of the HA (extrahepatic PSV, intrahepatic PSV, RI and AT) were compared in patients with and without complications. RESULTS: The PSV of the extrahepatic HA in patients with HA complications was higher than that in patients without complications (P value = 0.019). The PSV at 107.7 cm/s is the optimal cut-off parameter associated with HA complications [a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 80.0% (ROC area is 0.84)]. The intrahepatic RI was higher on the first day than on the last day and gradually decreased in patients without vascular complications (P value = 0.000). The intrahepatic PSV significantly decreased with time when comparing the first and last days in patients without PV and HV-IVC complications (P value = 0.014 and 0.038). In contrast, patients with vascular complications showed no significant decrease. CONCLUSION: The extrahepatic PSV relates to HA complications after paediatric LT but not PV and HV-IVC complications. Non-significantly decreased intrahepatic RI and PSV from the first day to the day of complication diagnosis may correlate with the occurrence of vascular complications.

Diameter-reflux relationship of the saphenous vein in the C0-C3 patients of chronic venous disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the saphenous vein's diameter and reflux and determine the cut point of the saphenous vein's diameter that indicates lack of reflux. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study conducted in 807 limbs underwent the venous ultrasound for 36 months. The saphenous vein's diameter in the reflux and non-reflux groups was evaluated. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed to determine the saphenous vein's diameter that maximizes the summation of sensitivity and specificity for saphenous vein reflux in C0-C3 patients. RESULTS: The reflux group had a significantly greater diameter than a non-reflux group at four great saphenous vein (GSV) levels and two small saphenous vein (SSV) levels (p-value < 0.001). The venous reflux correlated significantly with GSV diameter at all four GSV levels and two SSV levels (p-value <0.001). The ROC area of the diameter at four GSV levels ranges from 0.59 to 0.69. The optimal cut-off diameter for GSV reflux is 3.8 mm at the proximal thigh, 2.8 mm at the distal thigh, 3.2 mm at the proximal calf, and 2.5 mm at the distal calf. The ROC area of the diameter at two SSV levels ranges from 0.66 to 0.67. The optimal cut-off diameter for SSV reflux is 2.5 mm at the proximal calf and 2.3 mm at the distal calf. CONCLUSION: The saphenous vein's diameter has been proved to be significantly correlated with the presence of reflux in duplex ultrasound in all lower limbs' levels. Unfortunately, the study's cut point diameter is considered poor accuracy and is not an accurate measurement to use as the screening test for the presence of reflux.

Morphologic change in deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremity after therapeutic anticoagulation.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the anticoagulant treatment response in venous thrombi with different morphologies (size, shape, and echogenicity) by measuring the change in thrombus thickness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 97 lower extremity DVT patients diagnosed by venous ultrasound between March 2014 and February 2018. The demographics, clinical risk factors, anticoagulant treatment, and ultrasound findings at the first diagnosis and 2-6 months after treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: The anticoagulant treatment with LMWH followed by VKAs showed a significant decrease in the mean maximum difference in lower extremity DVT thrombus thickness compared with VKAs alone (P-value < 0.001). After adjustment by treatment, the thrombi found in dilated veins showed a significant decrease in the thickness of such thrombi compared with those found in small veins: 4 mm vs. 0 mm (Coef. = 3, 95% CI: 1.9, 4.1 and P-value < 0.001). Anechoic and hypoechoic thrombi showed a significant decrease in the thickness compared with hyperechoic thrombi: 5 mm vs. 0 mm (Coef. = 4, 95% CI: 3.25, 4.74 and P-value < 0.001) and 3 mm vs. 0 mm (Coef. = 2, 95% CI: 1.34, 42.66 and P-value < 0.001), respectively. Concentric thrombi showed a significant decrease in thickness compared with eccentric thrombi: 4 mm vs. 0 mm (Coef. = 2, 95% CI: 1.45, 2.55 and P-value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The anticoagulant treatment with LMWH followed by VKAs shows a significant decrease in lower extremity DVT thrombus thickness compared with VKAs alone. After adjustment by treatment, the morphologic finding of acute thrombi shows a significantly decreased thickness compared with the morphologic finding of chronic thrombi.

Branch Pulmonary Artery Regurgitation in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Correlation with Pulmonary Artery Morphology, Distensibility, and Right Ventricular Function.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine the effect of pulmonary artery (PA) morphology on the branch pulmonary artery-regurgitation fraction (BPA-RF), the relationship of pulmonary insufficiency (PI) to BPA-RF and PA-distensibility, and factors (BPA-RF and PA-distensibility) associated with right ventricular function (RVF) in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). METHODS: A total of 182 rTOF patients (median age 17.1 years) were analyzed for length, angle of PA, BPA-RF, PI, and PA-distensibility, using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The left PA had a significant greater RF than the right PA (median (interquartile range)): LPA 43.1% (32.6-51.5) and RPA 35.2% (24.7-44.7), p < 0.001. The LPA was shorter with a narrower angle than the RPA (p < 0.001). The anatomy of the branch-PA was not a factor for the greater LPA-RF (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: CI, p-value): length 0.44 (0.95-2.00), p = 0.28; angle 0.63 (0.13-2.99), p = 0.56. There was a strong positive correlation between PI and BPA-RF-coefficients (95% CI), p-value: LPA 0.78% (0.70-0.86), p < 0.001; RPA 0.78% (0.71-0.84), p < 0.001 and between BPA-RF and distensibility-coefficients (95%CI), p-value: LPA 0.73% (0.37-1.09), p < 0.001; RPA 1.63% (1.22-2.03), p < 0.001, respectively. The adjusted BPA-RF did not predict RVF, RPA (p = 0.434), LPA (p = 0.268). CONCLUSIONS: PA morphology is not a significant factor for the differential BPA-RF. The vascular wall in rTOF patients responds to chronic increased intravascular volume by increasing distensibility. BPA-RF is not a determinant of RVF.

Coronary artery changes in congenital coronary-cameral fistulas evaluated by computed tomographic angiography.

PURPOSE: The study sought to determine coronary artery diameter in congenital coronary-cameral fistula (cCCF), factors associated with coronary artery aneurysm, coronary artery changes after fistula closure, and computed tomographic (CT) findings after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed CT findings of the cCCF for origins, terminations, fistula length, complexities, and Sakakibara classification. Coronary artery diameter was expressed as coronary artery Z score. Fistula features associated with coronary artery aneurysm were analyzed. Post-fistula closures were analyzed for coronary artery dilatation, coronary thrombosis, complete fistula closure, and fistula thrombosis. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (median age 33 months, interquartile range, IQR 25-48) were included. Coronary feeders and terminations were frequently right coronary artery (48%) and right ventricle (56%), respectively. Fistula aneurysm occurred in 52% of cases. Mean coronary artery Z score was 13.03 ± 6.36 with a high incidence of giant coronary artery aneurysm (68%). We found no statistically significant risk factors associated with coronary artery aneurysm (p value range 0.075-0.370). Median duration of the follow-up CT after closure of the fistulas was 6.4 months (IQR 5.0-8.7). Coronary artery Z score significantly decreased by 0.82 (IQR 0.28-1.35), p = 0.006 and coronary thrombosis occurred in 23% of cases during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Large coronary aneurysm is common in cCCF. No characteristic feature of the fistula influencing coronary artery aneurysm is identified. There is a diminution in coronary artery Z score after fistula closure. Coronary thrombosis is a major complication after treatment.

Correlating computed tomographic angiography of pulmonary circulation with clinical course and disease burden in patients with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.

PURPOSE: To determine the type of pulmonary circulation (PC) in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and pulmonary atresia (TOF-PA) with the use of computed tomographic angiography (CTA), and describe their clinical courses, corrective surgery and disease burden. METHODS: 145 patients (median age 4 years, interquartile range: IQR2-8 years) were analyzed for PC which divided into 5 CTA-types and 11 subtypes based on presence of main pulmonary trunk (MPA) and confluent pulmonary arteries (confluence-PAs), presence of ductus arteriosus or major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs), respectively. Pulmonary arteries (PAs) were assessed by McGoon ratio and arborization. Corrective surgery or palliative management was recorded by type of PC. Disease burden was calculated as the sum of CTA, diagnostic angiography, and palliative management. RESULTS: The most common (N = 77, 53 %) PC was the presence of MPA with confluent-PAs (type-1) which was encountered mostly in TOF patients, followed by the presence of confluent-PAs with atretic MPA (type-2) (N = 47, 32 %) which found mainly in TOF-PA. McGoon ratio in type-1 (2.44 ± 0.84) was significantly larger than type-2 (1.61 ± 0.61) (median difference 0.84, 95 %CI 0.56-1.11, p < 0.001). Almost 2/3 of patients in type-1 (71 %) and 1/3 of patients in type-2 (34 %) achieved corrective surgery. There was no significant difference in amount of disease burden among the different PC, with the median value of 3 (IQR1-4). CONCLUSIONS: Types of PC allow suggestions for size and arborization of PAs and successful surgical correction with an inverse relationship with the numbers of MAPCAs. There is no significant difference in amount of disease burden among the types of PC.

Follow-up aortic dilatation in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot using cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

PURPOSE: The study sought to determine the rate of aortic expansion and correlation with somatic growth in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), and predictors for determining the annual growth rate of the aorta (Ao-AGR). METHODS: Ninety-four rTOF patients (mean age 14.5 ± 4.4 years) with two cardiac magnetic resonance tests (CMR) (median duration 52 months, interquartile range, IQR 24-71) were analyzed for aortic diameter (AoD) at the annulus, the sinus of Valsalva (SoV), the sinotubular junction, and the ascending aorta (AAo), and compared with the normal limit AoD (NL-AoD) values. The median age-at-repair was 60 months (IQR 36-84). Ao-AGR and its index (Ao-AGRI) were derived from changes of the AoD and AoD-index, respectively, divided by the duration between the two studies. Three potential predictors (baseline AoD, sex, and age-at-repair) for the progression of Ao-AGR were analyzed. RESULTS: There was a significant larger AoD than NL-AoD (p < 0.001). Slow aortic growth was encountered in 78-85 % of patients. The Ao-AGR was slow, the median AGR ranged from 0.37 mm (IQR 0.13-0.72) at annulus to 0.56 mm (IQR 0.22-0.91) at AAo. There was a regression in Ao-AGRI, ranged from -1.41 mm (IQR -1.94, -0.87) at annulus to -2.36 mm (IQR -3.09, -1.63) at SoV. The three predictors were not correlated with severity of Ao-AGR. CONCLUSION: Most adolescents with rTOF show significant aortic dilatation. There is a slow Ao-AGR with regression of Ao-AGRI, which may suggest that the rate of aortic growth is slower than the somatic growth. There are no significant predictors of the progression of Ao-AGR.

Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of aortic dilatation and distensibility in 269 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and degree of aortic dilatation (Adilatation), severity of aortic stiffness (Astiff), factors for Adilatation, and level of aortic root most sensitive to Astiff in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 269 patients with rTOF (mean age 14.9 ± standard deviation 5.0 years) were analyzed for Adilatation at annulus, sinus, sinotubular junction, and ascending aorta (aAo). Aortic size index was graded as Z score < 2, 2-2.99, 3-4.99 and ≥ 5. Aortic distensibility (aAdis) was categorized according to 4 aortic levels and dilatation severity. Factors for Adilatation and level of aortic root most sensitive to Astiff were analyzed. RESULTS: Sinus and aAo were the two most common sites of Adilatation, with a prevalence of 84% and 76%, respectively. A decreased aAdis was found (mean 5.38 ± 1.79 10-3 mmHg-1). aAdis only declined significantly at the sinus level (p = 0.009). Male sex, age-at-repair and aortic regurgitation were significant factors for Adilatation, with male sex as the strongest factor (odds ratio 2.94). There was a significant decline in aAdis at sinus level (p = 0.002) as Adilatation progressed. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high prevalence of Adilatation and Astiff in patients with rTOF. Male sex is the strongest factor for Adilatation. The sinus is the most sensitive area for determining a negative aAdis effect.