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Imaging in Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures

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Surgical Procedures on the Cirrhotic Patient

Abstract

Preoperative imaging plays an important role in cirrhotic patients undergoing surgery. The imaging may make an initial diagnosis of cirrhosis in a patient with no known history of liver disease and demonstrate findings of advanced liver disease, such as ascites, splenomegaly, and portosystemic collateral pathways. In both scenarios, the identification of cirrhosis and complications is important in the preoperative setting, since cirrhotic patients have increased risk of surgical complications. In this chapter, we will discuss the imaging findings used to make the radiographic diagnosis of cirrhosis. Extrahepatic manifestations of cirrhosis will also be reviewed with an emphasis on portal hypertension and portosystemic collaterals. Further, the clinical implication of some of these findings will be touched upon.

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Abbreviations

CT:

Computed tomography

IMV:

Inferior mesenteric vein

IVC:

Inferior vena cava

MR (or MRI):

Magnetic resonance (or magnetic resonance imaging)

MRE:

Magnetic resonance elastography

SVC:

Superior vena cava

TIPS:

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

US:

Ultrasound

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Correspondence to Christopher P. Coppa MD .

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Coppa, C.P., Ruskin, S.E. (2017). Imaging in Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures. In: Eghtesad, B., Fung, J. (eds) Surgical Procedures on the Cirrhotic Patient. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52396-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52396-5_4

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