title: Hypoxic liver injury and cholestasis in critically ill patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Liver dysfunction frequently complicates the clinical picture of critical illness and leads to increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this review is to characterize the most frequent patterns of liver dysfunction at the intensive care unit, cholestasis and hypoxic liver injury (HLI), and to illustrate its clinical impact on outcome in critically ill patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver dysfunction at the intensive care unit can be divided into two main patterns: cholestatic and HLI, also known as ischemic hepatitis or shock liver. Both hepatic dysfunctions occur frequently and early in critical illness. Major issues are the early recognition and subsequent initiation of therapeutic measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical awareness of the liver not only as a victim, but also as a trigger of multiorgan failure is of central clinical importance. Physicians have to identify the underlying factors that contribute to its development to initiate curative measures as early as possible.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Horvatits
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Trauner
authors: Valentin
authors: V
authors: Fuhrmann
mesh_terms: D002303:Cardiac Output, Low; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016638:Critical Illness; D004280:Dobutamine; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004280:Dobutamine