Hepatic arterial thrombosis after liver transplantation: Intraoperative electromagnetic blood flow evaluation

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the use of electromagnetic flowmetry applied to the hepatic artery would be more beneficial than the currently accepted qualitative method for reducing the incidence of postoperative hepatic arterial thrombosis. Although the electromagnetic flowmeter enhances the surgeon's ability to more reliably detect vascular complications when compared with presently accepted techniques, there is no substitute for vigilance and attention to detail. The Cliniflow II electromagnetic flowmeter is simple to use and avoids the classic problems associated with electromagnetic flowmetry by incorporating a nonocclusive automatic zero and probe calibration factors built into the probe connector. The advantages of intraoperative electromagnetic flowmetry include (1) identification and resolution of mechanical obstruction to flow before irreversible damage occurs, (2) potential reduction in the preoperative rate, and (3) possibly early prediction of graft failure.