Management of fulminant hepatic failure

Acta Chir Belg. 1998 Dec;98(6):235-40.

Abstract

Fulminant hepatic failure is an infrequent but dreadful disease, occurring usually in young patients. Despite fulminant hepatic failure is reversible in most of the cases, some patients develop brain edema and intracranial hypertension, which are the most common cause of death in these patients. Liver transplantation significantly improves the prognosis of selected patients in who precise criteria predict a low chance of survival. This review summarizes the modern standard of care of patients with fulminant hepatic failure, with particular underlining of the management of brain oedema and intracranial hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain Edema / etiology
  • Brain Edema / therapy
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / complications
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / surgery
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypertension / etiology
  • Intracranial Hypertension / therapy
  • Liver Transplantation