Fulminant hepatic failure: when to transplant.
Fulminant hepatic failure is a life-threatening condition that can lead to rapid deterioration and death if timely treatment is not instituted. Many patients recover with supportive care. Patients with deteriorating signs and laboratory parameters require prompt assessment and listing for liver transplantation. Outcome following transplantation is a function of severity of illness before transplantation, timeliness of liver transplantation and graft quality and function. With appropriate immunosuppression and close follow-up most patients can lead near normal lives following liver transplantation.
Khanna
Ajai
A
Abdominal Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103-8401, USA. akhanna@ucsd.edu
Hemming
Alan W
AW
D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation