title: [Multiple organ failure syndrome in fulminant hepatic failure].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  in fulminant hepatic failure, different organs systems become involved and a multiple systems organic failure may ensure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to perform a retrospective analysis of patients with fulminant hepatic failure admitted to UC Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  the charts of fourteen patients (8 male) were analyzed. Multiple systems organic failure was defined as the presence of 2 or more organic dysfunctions. The evolution and mortality of these patients was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  patient's ages ranged from 30 to 74 years. The etiology of hepatic failure was B hepatitis in 4, non A non B hepatitis in 5, acute fatty liver of pregnancy in 3 and use of halothane and HIN in 2. ICU stay ranged from 1 to 44 days and 2 patients survived (one with drug induced liver failure and one with acute fatty live of pregnancy). Mean prothrombin time was 19 +/- 9.5%, total bilirrubin was 24 +/- 8.9 mg/dl and 12 patients reached grade IV encephalopathy. Mean admission APACHE II score was 21.5 +/- 6. Twelve patients developed multiple systems organic failure, that appeared 1.5 days after or was already present at ICU admission; it lasted a mean of 2.5 days and all these 12 patients died. Neurologic involvement occurred in 13 patients, renal in 10, cardiovascular in 9, respiratory in 5 and hematological involvement in 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  multiple systems organic failure is frequent in fulminant hepatic failure and is associated with a high mortality.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andresen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arrese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dussaillant
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dougnac
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campusano
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Glasinovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
vernacular_title: Síndrome de falla orgánica múltiple en el curso de la insuficiencia hepática fulminante.