Acute Liver Failure; Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, & Prognosis

What is the treatment of acute liver failure?

Acute liver failure is reversible, while the chronic form is irreversible. So, the early management of acute liver failure saves the patient. Because of the rapid mental deterioration, patient management should be in the intensive care unit.

The treatment of this condition depends on the cause of liver failure.

The treatment plan is as follow:

• Antidote for drug toxicity as N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen overdose
• Stop or limit alcohol intake
• Treatment of hepatitis according to the type
• Correction of electrolyte disturbances like hypokalaemia
• Parenteral nutrition and fluid replacement by colloids as albumin
• Mechanical ventilation for pulmonary complications
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics for bacterial infections
• Vitamin K treats the abnormal prothrombin time and controls the bleeding.
• Blood transfusion if severe bleeding occurs
• Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy:
  • Hospitalization in ICU
  • Restriction of proteins in the diet
  • Antibiotics for intestinal bacteria
  • Lactulose: wash the colon and converts ammonia into ammonium
• Liver transplantation is the hope for chronic hepatic patients.

The earlier diagnosis, the better management