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Acute Liver Failure following Cleft Palate Repair: A Case of Therapeutic Acetaminophen Toxicity

Background Acetaminophen is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic agent in the pediatric population. While the hepatotoxic effects of the drug have been well recognized in cases of acute overdose and chronic supratherapeutic doses, the toxic effects of acetaminophen are rarely documented in cases where therapeutic guidelines are followed. Case An 8-month-old boy underwent cleft palate repair and placement of bilateral myringotomy tubes. His anesthetic course was uneventful, consisting of maintenance with desflurane and fentanyl. He received acetaminophen for routine postoperative pain management and was tolerating liquids and discharged home on postoperative day 1. On day 3, the child was profoundly lethargic with multiple episodes of emesis and was taken to the emergency department. He suffered a 45-second tonic-clonic seizure in transport to the regional children's medical center, and initial laboratory results demonstrated acute hepatitis with AST 24,424 U/L, ALT 12,885 U/L, total bilirubin 3.1 mg/dL, and a serum acetaminophen level of 83 μg/mL. Aggressive supportive measures including blood products and periprocedural fresh frozen plasma, piperacillin/tazobactam, and intravenous infusions of N-acetylcysteine, sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate, carnitine, and citrulline were administered. His metabolic acidosis and acute hepatitis began to correct by day 4, and he was discharged home without further surgical intervention on day 15. Conclusion Although acetaminophen is an effective and commonly used analgesic in pediatric practice, hepatotoxicity is a potentially devastating complication. This report challenges the appropriateness of existing guidelines for acetaminophen administration and emphasizes the importance of close follow-up and hydration after even relatively minor surgery.