title: Clinical management of acute hepatic failure.
abstract: Acute hepatic failure is a rare clinical syndrome associated with high mortality. Hepatic failure leads to a well-recognised pattern of clinical signs and symptoms, sometimes with rapid deterioration and progression to multi-organ failure. Early recognition of this syndrome is essential for appropriate treatment; once identified, patients benefit from early interventional support and treatment in the intensive care unit. Aggressive management may allow stabilisation of patients before their transfer to specialist liver units. At present, orthotopic liver transplantation is the only treatment modality that provides significant improvement in outcome. This review examines the aetiology and clinical presentation of acute hepatic failure, providing guidelines regarding patient management. We present a critical appraisal of specific clinical areas, including the management of cardiovascular, cerebral, renal, coagulopathic and infective complications. Liver transplantation is discussed as well as emerging therapies including non-biological and hybrid liver support systems that may provide a "bridge to transplantation".
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine-Hepatology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Street, Hampstead, London, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hodgson
mesh_terms: D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome