Hepatic assist device, using membrane plasma separator and dialyzer.
Our hepatic assist device is composed of a membrane plasma separator, blood and plasma pumps, hemodialyzer and controller. Using this device, the patients plasma is replaced with fresh donor plasma in a 5000 ml amount daily. This procedure of plasma exchange takes place in the intensive care unit, until the patient recovers consciousness or cerebral death is confirmed. In the initial results of this plasma exchange, 5 out of 10 patients with fulminant hepatic failure survived. Even with fatal cases, prolongation of survival time was observed. Our hepatic assist device, performing an easy and safe procedure for plasma exchange, appears to be the most promising method of providing long-term hepatic support for acute liver failure at the present time.
D000368:Aged; D001187:Artificial Organs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods