Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the transplant pancreas in the post-operative setting.

Background/objectives: Vascular thrombosis is the most common cause of early graft loss after transplantation. Routine grayscale and Doppler ultrasound frequently fail to adequately visualize vascular compromise. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a novel approach to identifying these complications.

A dedicated paracentesis clinic decreases healthcare utilization for serial paracenteses in decompensated cirrhosis.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe the effect of a dedicated paracentesis clinic on healthcare utilization by patients with decompensated cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

Methods: This Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective study identified cirrhotic patients receiving paracenteses over a 6-month period before and after creating the paracentesis clinic. Patients were followed for 12 months to collect outcome data including characteristics of subsequent hospitalizations and paracenteses.

Risk factors for bleeding after liver biopsy.

Objective: Determine factors that increase the risk of bleeding after liver biopsy.

Methods: Retrospective review of radiology and clinical databases from Jan 2008 to Jun 2014 revealed 847 patients with liver biopsy. Of these, 154 (group I) had targeted biopsy of focal lesion and 142 (group 2) had random core biopsy for diffuse liver disease.