Management of fulminant hepatic failure
Detry, O.; Honoré, P.; Meurisse, M.; Jacquet, N.
Acta Chirurgica Belgica 98(6): 235-240
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5458 PMID: 9922809 Document Number: 489512
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.