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Echocardiography in the Liver Transplant Patient

  • Echocardiography (JM Gardin and AH Waller, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aim of this study is to review current echocardiographic modalities utilized in the assessment of the preoperative liver transplant candidate with an emphasis on newer techniques. We sought to assess if newer methods imparted additional diagnostic or prognostic accuracy compared to prior methods based on existing studies.

Recent Findings

Standard dobutamine stress echocardiography offers important information regarding operative risk and post-operative survival in liver transplant candidates; however, technologies such as speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and evaluation of diastolic function have emerged as useful tools as well.

Summary

2D-STE and diastolic echocardiography offer additional parameters such as global longitudinal strain and measures of diastolic dysfunction that can better predict peri-operative and post-operative complications in liver transplant candidates. If able, practitioners should utilize these methods routinely in their assessment of liver transplant candidates.

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  1. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 257 De Rose Court, West Orange, NJ, 07052, USA

    Parul Kakar, James Gubitosa & Christine Gerula

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  1. Parul Kakar
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Kakar, P., Gubitosa, J. & Gerula, C. Echocardiography in the Liver Transplant Patient. Curr Cardiol Rep 23, 110 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-021-01531-1

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