Background: Acute liver failure is a devastating clinical syndrome with a persistently high mortality rate despite critical care advances. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a life-saving treatment in selected cases, but effective use of this limited resource requires accurate prognostication because of surgical risks and the requirement for subsequent life-long immunosuppression.
Aim: To review the aetiology of acute liver failure, discuss the evidence behind critical care management strategies and examine potential treatment alternatives to OLT.
Methods: Literature review using Ovid, PubMed and recent conference abstracts.
Results: Paracetamol remains the most common aetiology of acute liver failure in developed countries, whereas acute viral aetiologies predominate elsewhere. Cerebral oedema is a major cause of death, and its prevention and prompt recognition are vital components of critical care support, which strives to provide multiorgan support and 'buy time' to permit either organ regeneration or psychological and physical assessment prior to acquisition of a donor organ. Artificial liver support systems do not improve mortality in acute liver failure, whilst most other interventions have limited evidence bases to support their use.
Conclusion: Acute liver failure remains a truly challenging condition to manage, and requires early recognition and transfer of patients to specialist centres providing intensive, multidisciplinary input and, in some cases, OLT.