Title

Performance of an Ultrasound Examination of Solid‐Organ Transplants

Authoring Organization

Publication Month/Year

March 12, 2020

Document Type

Other

External Publication Status

Published

Country of Publication

US

Document Objectives

A. Liver Transplant 

 

  1. Performance of a screening ultrasound examination to establish a baseline following transplantation as per the hospital surveillance protocol.1
  2. Evaluation for vascular patency and for suspected thrombosis or stenosis.2
  3. Evaluation for a possible fluid collection or assessment of drainage catheter output.
  4. Assessment of the biliary tree for dilatation, a stricture, biloma, or an abscess.
  5. Assessment of the transplant in the setting of abnormal liver function test results.
  6. Evaluation for pain, fever, sepsis, or other clinical issues.
  7. Follow‐up of abnormal findings on a prior transplant ultrasound examination.
  8. Evaluation for recurrent malignancy or posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder.2-7
  9. Evaluation for cirrhosis or recurrent underlying liver disease.
  10. Reevaluation of the liver transplant and vasculature after final abdominal wall closure.
  11. Evaluation for iatrogenic injury or complications following biopsy of the transplanted liver.

 

B. Renal Transplant 

 

  1. Performance of a screening ultrasound examination to establish a baseline following transplantation as per the hospital surveillance protocol.
  2. Evaluation for vascular patency and for suspected thrombosis or stenosis.8
  3. Evaluation for a possible fluid collection or assessment of drainage catheter output.8
  4. Evaluation for suspected hydronephrosis, hydroureter, or a bladder abnormality.
  5. Assessment of the transplant in the setting of abnormal laboratory or clinical values (eg, elevated creatinine and low or decreased urine output).
  6. Evaluation for pain, fever, sepsis, hematuria, or other clinical issues.
  7. Evaluation of the transplant in the setting of hypertension or bruit.
  8. Follow‐up of abnormal findings on a prior transplant ultrasound examination.
  9. Evaluation for iatrogenic injury or complications following biopsy of the transplanted kidney.
  10. Evaluation for recurrent malignancy or posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

 

C. Pancreas Transplant 

 

  1. Performance of a screening ultrasound examination to establish a baseline following transplantation as per the hospital surveillance protocol.
  2. Evaluation for vascular patency and for suspected thrombosis or stenosis.
  3. Evaluation for a possible fluid collection or assessment of drainage catheter output.
  4. Assessment of the transplant in the setting of abnormal laboratory values or clinical parameters (eg, elevated blood glucose and lipase levels).
  5. Assessment of the transplant in the setting of infection, pancreatitis, or other clinical issues.
  6. Follow‐up of abnormal findings on a prior transplant ultrasound examination.
  7. Evaluation for iatrogenic injury or complications following biopsy of the transplanted pancreas.
  8. Evaluation of the response to treatment (eg, immunosuppressive therapy in the setting of rejection).

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Female, Adult

Health Care Settings

Hospital

Intended Users

Medical techologist technician, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Diagnosis

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D016030 - Kidney Transplantation, D016031 - Liver Transplantation

Keywords

solid organ transplant, ultrasound

Source Citation

(2020), AIUM Practice Parameter for the Performance of an Ultrasound Examination of Solid‐Organ Transplants. J Ultrasound Med, 39: E30-E38. doi:10.1002/jum.15261