Standard Checks for Anastomoses and Benefits of Flow Measurement
Accurate flow measurements can play a crucial role in the success of organ transplantation.
Flow provides vital information about the health of the graft and confirms function before closing the patient.
In the United States, over 100,000 people are awaiting organ transplants. Of those, more than 17,500 are on the waiting list to receive a liver transplant. Flow measurement is most commonly used for liver transplant, but its benefits are broad, reaching to renal, lung, etc.
Previously, flow would be confirmed during a transplant by palpation of a vessel or visual assessment of perfusion. These methods can be helpful, but are subjective. Transit-time ultrasound flow measurement, on the other hand, provides an accurate and objective assessment.
And objective data helps you, the surgeon, to evaluate a patient's health and progress to the fullest.
Benefits of Transit-Time Flow Measurement in Transplant Surgery
Lundell, et al, evaluated the use of transit time flow measurement during renal transplant to predict delayed onset of function or acute rejection or graft loss within three months of transplantation.
They found that, in 100 transplants, low blood flow and high resistance positively correlated with delayed onset of graft function, including the need for post-transplant dialysis.
Lundell, et al stated that using transit time flow measurement with a flow meter during renal transplant surgery was “easy to perform and immediate estimation of transplant circulation was achieved. Transplants at risk for delayed onset of function were identified.”
Abbasoglu, et al assessed the use of flow measurement during hepatic artery anastomosis during orthotopic liver transplantation.
Upon analyzing 367 adult patients who received grafts, researchers found that flow measurement may help predict early posttransplant complications in the hepatic artery.
Specifically, they found that patients with hepatic artery flows less than 400 ml/min or HA/CI values of less than 7% may carry a higher risk for HA stenosis or thrombosis.
Transonic’s flow measurement technology for transplant surgery quickly and accurately produces flow data.
Help reduce risk of graft failure and detect impaired blood flow before closure with flow measurement.