What is the treatment for liver failure?

Expert answer:

In hepatic failure caused by hepatitis and other viruses, treatment is done with antiviral drugs. Treatment of liver failure also includes measures to decrease the risk of worsening liver damage and encephalopathy.

It is therefore very important to control bleeding, low levels of oxygen in the blood, and other metabolic and physiological changes.

However, the treatment of liver failure depends on its cause and is multidisciplinary, since liver failure is not restricted only to the liver but also to other organs and systems.

Liver transplant

Liver transplantation is the only way to save the lives of people with liver failure with imminent risk of death. When liver failure is not caused by the use of acetaminophen (paracetamol), the criteria for deciding when to transplant liver should be at least 3 of the following:

Age less than 10 years or greater than 40 years;
Non-A and E hepatitis;
Unexpected drug reactions;
Jaundice present more than a week before encephalopathy;
Total bilirubin above 18mg / dL.

In metabolic diseases and Wilson's disease, liver transplantation is able to permanently cure liver failure.

Liver transplantation is contraindicated in cases of infections that are active and uncontrolled, cerebral edema unlikely to be reversed, venous thromboses that prevent surgery, multiple organ failure, and very advanced age.

Learn more at:

What can cause liver failure?

What are the symptoms of liver failure?

Hepatic insufficiency has a cure? What are the possible complications?