To preliminarily analyze the value of ultrasonography on liver grafts in in-suit split liver transplantation (ISSLT).

The ultrasonography data of 5 cases of donation after brain death were analyzed retrospectively. All the donors received routine two-dimensional ultrasonography, color doppler ultrasound (CDFI) and shear wave elastography (SWE) before transplantation, and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was performed depending upon the situation.

Test result of two-dimensional ultrasonography showed that liver echo was low in 2 cases, slightly enhanced in 2 cases, and remarkably enhanced in 1 case. No abnormality was found in hepatic artery, portal vein, middle hepatic vein or their branches using CDFI. The shear wave velocity of right hepatic anterior of 5 donors was 2.67-4.35 kPa. CEUS was performed in 2 donors, and 1 case had anatomical variation in hepatic artery. The vascular assessment results of ultrasonography were consistent with intraoperative findings. Pathologic findings showed no hepatic adipose infiltration in all five cases.

Ultrasonography can serve as the preferred imaging examanation for preoperative liver evaluation of ISSLT donor. It can accurately evaluate the size, quality, existence of adipose infiltration, and vascular variation of donor livers. SWE and CEUS can serve as effective supplements for the traditional ultrasonographic method by hardness and microcirculation perfusion detection, respectively.