liver and gallbladder disorders
Liver Failure
Treatment of Liver Failure
Treatment of the cause For acute liver failure, immediate treatment Sometimes Liver Transplantation None Treatment depends on the cause and the specific symptoms. The urgency of treatment depends on whether liver failure is acute or chronic, but the principles of treatment are the same. People should also limit their consumption of sodium (in salt and many foods) to less than 2,000 mg a day to prevent fluid from accumulating within the abdomen. Alcohol is completely avoided because it can worsen liver damage. Acute liver failure is a medical emergency. If possible, people should be evaluated at a liver transplant center and managed in an intensive care unit. Treatment may include For low blood pressure: Fluids given intravenously and drugs to increase low blood pressure For hepatic encephalopathy: Possibly treatments, such aslactulose(a laxative) and antibiotics For infections: Antibiotics or antifungal drugs For low blood sugar: Glucose (a sugar) given intravenously For bleeding: Transfusions of fresh frozen plasma (the fluid part of the blood, which contains proteins that help blood clot, called blood clotting factors) and, when necessary, whole blood If needed, a plastic breathing tube is inserted through the mouth into the windpipe and sometimes a Mechanical Ventilation is used to assist with breathing. Liver Transplantation , if done soon enough, can restore liver function, sometimes enabling people to live as long as they would have if they did not have a liver disorder. However, liver transplantation is not suitable for all people with liver failure. 