Navigating the Labyrinth: Intensive Care Challenges for Patients with Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine Vol. 13; no. 2; p. 506
• Main Authors: Saner, Fuat H, Raptis, Dimitri A, Alghamdi, Saad A, Malagó, Massimo M, Broering, Dieter C, Bezinover, Dmitri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Alcohol; Analysis; Bacterial infections; Care and treatment; cirrhosis; Complications and side effects; Consortia; Critical care medicine; Cytokines; Development and progression; Failure; hemodynamic disorder; hemostasis disorder; ICU treatment; infection; Infections; Inflammation; Intensive care; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; Liver failure; Medical prognosis; Methods; Mortality; Patients; Sepsis; Saudi Arabia; ICU treatment; infection; hemostasis disorder; hemodynamic disorder; cirrhosis
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020506

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) refers to the deterioration of liver function in individuals who already have chronic liver disease. In the setting of ACLF, liver damage leads to the failure of other organs and is associated with increased short-term mortality. Optimal medical management of patients with ACLF requires implementing complex treatment strategies, often in an intensive care unit (ICU). Failure of organs other than the liver distinguishes ACLF from other critical illnesses. Although there is growing evidence supporting the current approach to ACLF management, the mortality associated with this condition remains unacceptably high. In this review, we discuss considerations for ICU care of patients with ACLF and highlight areas for further research.