Liver failure is rather rare with fewer than 200,000 US cases per year. Treatment can help, but this condition can’t be cured. The liver is one of the most wondrous organs in your body, about the size of a football, it lies in the abdomen below the diaphragm and behind the ribs.
Functions of the Liver:
- Produces bile
- Clears toxins from your blood
- Controls the hormones
- Breakdowns food into energy (metabolism)
Because it works to heal itself after damage, the liver has a strong regeneration capability. This process occurs as long as the liver hasn’t lost 80% of its natural tissue. Liver failure means that your liver isn’t able to perform as well as it was before. It’s a life-threatening condition that requires urgent care.
There are two types of liver failure:
Acute (fulminant) Liver Failure
It happens suddenly in a short period (days or weeks). These patients don’t have any previous symptoms of liver disease.
The common cause of acute liver failure is poisoning from a drug overdose, such as acetaminophen overdose.
It is characterized by: Fever, fatigue, malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and right abdominal pain. Treatment of acute liver failure occurs in the intensive care unit of the hospital. Your doctor will give you supportive treatment to stabilize your condition and control the complications during treatment. People experiencing acute liver failure should seek medical attention as fast as possible.
