Management of Acute Liver Failure

Dr Ganapathi S KiniDNB Trainee

Management

• General• CNS complication• Infection• Metabolic • Coagulopathy• Hemodynamic• Renal failure• Prognosis predictor

General Considerations

• Though etiologically different , ALF have a common clinical features:

a) Acute loss of hepatocellular function.b) Systemic inflammatory response.

c) Multi-organ failure.

Circulatory dysfunction

• Agents tried in circulatory dysfunction in ALF include

– Prostaglandin

– N Acetyl Cysteine

Sterling RK, Luketic VA, Sanyal AJ, Shiffman ML. Treatment of fulminant hepatic failure with intravenous

prostaglandin E1. Liver Transpl Surg 1998;4:424-431.

• Sterling RK, Luketic VA, Sanyal AJ, Shiffman ML. Treatment of fulminant hepatic failure with intravenous prostaglandin E1. Liver Transpl Surg 1998;4:424-431

• Lee WM, Hynan LS, Rossaro L, Fontana RJ, Stravitz RT, Larson AM, et al. Intravenous N-acetylcysteine improves transplant-free survival in early stage non-acetaminophen acute liver failure. Gastroenterology 2009;137:856-864.

Mechanism of N Acetyl Cysteine in non paracetamol ALF

• May improve systemic circulation parameters.• Improve liver blood flow. • Improve liver function in patients with septic

shock.

Rank N, Michel C, Haertel C, Lenhart A, Welte M, Meier-Hellmann A, et al. N-acetylcysteine increases liverblood flow and improves liver function in septic shock patients: Results of a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Crit Care Med 2000;28:3799-3807.

CNS Complication

• Cerebral edema• ICH• Uncal herniation

Causes of CNS Complication

• Osmsotic disturbance in brain.

• Loss of autoregulation leading to increase blood flow.

• Increased S ammonia level.

• ? Inflammation & infection.

• Cerebral edema seldom in Grade I/II HE

• In 25 – 35% Grade III HE.

• In 65 – 75% or > Grade IV HE .

Daas M, Plevak DJ, Wijdicks EF, Rakela J, Wiesner RH, Piepgras DG, et al. Acute liver failure: results of a 5-year clinicalprotocol. Liver Transp Surg 1995;1:210-219.

Management of grade I/II HE.

• Consider transfer to liver transplant facility & listing for transplantation.

• Brain CT: r/o other causes.

• Avoid stimulation

• Avoid sedation.

• Lactulose ?possibly helpful.

Management of grade III/IV HE

• Intubate trachea (may require sedation)

• Elevate head of bed.

• Consider placement of ICP monitoring device.

• Immediate treatment of seizures required prophylaxis of unclear value.

• Ellis AJ, Wendon JA, Williams R. Subclinical seizureactivity and prophylactic phenytoin infusion in acuteliver failure: a controlled clinical trial. Hepatology 2000;32:536-541.

• Bhatia V, Batra Y, Acharya SK. Prophylactic phenytoin does not improve cerebral edema or survival in acute liver failure — a controlled clinical trial. J Hepatol 2004;41:89-96.

Management of grade III/IV HE

• Mannitol severe elevation of ICP or first clinical signs of herniation.

• Hypertonic saline to raise serum sodium to 145-155 mmol/L.

• Hyperventilation effects short-lived & may use for impending herniation.

Murphy N, Auzinger G, Bernal W, Wendon J. The effect of hypertonic sodium chloride on intracranial pressure in patients with acute liver failure. Hepatology 2002;39:464-470.

• Murphy N, Auzinger G, Bernal W, Wendon J. The effect of hypertonic sodium chloride on intracranial pressure in patients with acute liver failure. Hepatology 2002;39:464-470

• N 30 (ALF with Grade III/IV HEHS – 15 Vs Placebo – 15.

• Increase vassopressorHS – 0% Vs Placebo – 86.66% (P <0.001)

• Decrease in ICPHS – 86.66% Vs Placebo – 0% (P=.003)

• ICP significantly higher in control group (P=.04)

• Uncontrolled experimental studies have shown benefit of Short-acting barbiturates or hypothermia for intracranial hypertension refractory to osmotic agents as a bridge to liver transplantation.

Forbes A, Alexander GJ, O’Grady JG, Keays R, Gullan R, Dawling S, et al. Thiopental infusion in the treatment ofintracranial hypertension complicating fulminant hepatic failure. Hepatology 1989;10:306-310.

Jalan R, Damink SWMO, Deutz NEP, Lee A, Hayes PC. Moderate hypothermia for uncontrolled intracranialhypertension in acute liver failure. Lancet 1999;354:1164-1168.

Infection

• Periodic surveillance for infection.

• Prompt antimicrobial treatment.

• Antibiotic prophylaxis not shown survival benefit.

Rolando N, Wade J, Davalos M, Wendon J, Philpott-Howard J,Williams R. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome in acute liver failure. Hepatology 2000;32:734-739.

Coagulopathy• Vitamin K.

• FFP for invasive procedures /active bleeding.

• Platelets transfusion for invasive procedures /active bleeding.

• Recombinant factor aVII possibly effective for invasive procedures

• Prophylaxis for stress ulceration: give H2 blocker/PPI

Hemodynamics

• Volume replacement.

• Pressor support in hypotension refractory.

• Mean arterial pressure >75mm of Hg.

Stravitz RT, Kramer DJ. Management of acute liver failure. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2009;6:542-553.

Renal Failure

• Functional or ATN• Avoid nephrotoxic drugs (NSAIDs)• Continuous mode of RRT is preferred.• Contributes to mortality.

Davenport A, Will EJ, Davidson AM. Improved cardiovascular stability during continuous modes of renalreplacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute hepatic and renal failure. Crit Care Med 1993;21:328-338.

Metabolic Concerns

• Glucose.

• Supplementation of K+, Mg+2 & phosphate.

• Enteral or total parenteral nutrition.

Prognosis predictors.

• US multi-centre study of ALF, etiology of ALF was predictors of outcome i.e.,

a) Transplant free survival >=50% in ALF due toAcetaminophenHepatitis AShock LiverPregnancy related disease

• b) Transplant free survival < 25% in ALF due to1) Idiosyncratic drug injury2) Acute hepatitis B (& other non-hepatitis A viral

infections)3) Autoimmune hepatitis4) Mushroom poisoning5) Wilson disease6)Budd-Chiari syndrome7) Indeterminate cause

Other predictors

• Renal dysfunction in non-paracetamol ALF.

• Degree of hepatic encephalopathy.

King’s College Criteria

• Acetaminophen-Induced ALF.

• Non-Acetaminophen-Induced ALF.

Acetaminophen-Induced ALF1. Strongly consider OLT listing if:

a) arterial lactate >3.5 mmol/L after early fluid resuscitation

2. List for OLT if:a) pH <7.3 - or -b) arterial lactate >3.0 mmol/L after adequate fluid resuscitation

3. List for OLT if all 3 occur within a 24-hour period:a) presence of grade 3 or 4 hepatic encephalopathyb) INR >6.5c) Creatinine >3.4 mg/dL

Non-Acetaminophen-Induced ALF• List for OLT if:

INR >6.5 and encephalopathy present (irrespective of grade)OR

• Any 3 of the following (encephalopathy present; irrespective of grade):a) Age <10 or >40b) Jaundice for >7 days before development of encephalopathyc) INR 3.5d) S. Bilirubin >17mg/dl.d) Unfavorable etiology, such as

Wilson Diseaseidiosyncratic drug reactionseronegative hepatitis

THANK YOU