Effect of meal intake for evaluating hepatic artery by Doppler ultrasonography in liver transplants: Does fasting matter for screening hepatic artery due to hemodynamic changes in splanchnic circulation?

Purpose The aim of this study is to assess the utility of fasting on Doppler ultrasonography findings of hepatic artery in liver transplants. Methods Liver transplant patients without vascular abnormalities were prospectively evaluated between December 2017 and January 2020. Doppler sonography was used to describe hemodynamic changes in response to a standard meal. The diameter, peak systolic velocity, blood flow, resistive index (RI) of the main hepatic artery and portal vein peak velocity were measured. Results The mean hepatic arterial diameter of 44 patients was higher in the fasting group (4.5 mm) than in the postprandial group (3.3 mm) (p