title: The Liver in Critical Illness.
abstract: Caring for critically ill patients with acute and/or chronic liver dysfunction poses a unique challenge. Proper resuscitation and early consideration for transfer to liver transplant centers have resulted in improved outcomes. Liver support devices and cellular models have not yet shown mortality benefit, but they hold promise in the critical care of patients with liver disease. This article reviews pertinent anatomic and physiologic considerations of the liver in critical illness, followed by a selective review of associated organ dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Medicine & Neurocritical Care, Aurora Critical Care Service, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Electronic address: tessa.damm@aurora.org.
authors.forename: Tessa W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Damm
authors.affiliation: Aurora Critical Care Service, Milwaukee, WI, USA; University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006530:Hepatorenal Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Acute liver failure (ALF); Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF); Critical illness; Intracranial hypertension (IH); Multiple organ failure (MOF)