Hypothermia in acute liver failure

Metab Brain Dis. 2004 Dec;19(3-4):215-21. doi: 10.1023/b:mebr.0000043971.72170.a2.

Abstract

The development of encephalopathy in patients with acute liver injury defines the occurrence of liver failure. The encephalopathy of acute liver failure is characterized by brain edema which manifests clinically as increased intracranial pressure. Despite the best available medical therapies a significant proportion of patients with acute liver failure die due to brain herniation. The present review explores the experimental and clinical data to define the role of hypothermia as a treatment modality for increased intracranial pressure in patients with acute liver failure.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain Edema / etiology*
  • Brain Edema / physiopathology
  • Brain Edema / therapy*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / physiopathology
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hyperammonemia / metabolism
  • Hyperammonemia / physiopathology
  • Hyperammonemia / therapy
  • Hypothermia, Induced / adverse effects
  • Hypothermia, Induced / standards
  • Hypothermia, Induced / trends*
  • Intracranial Hypertension / etiology*
  • Intracranial Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Intracranial Hypertension / therapy*
  • Liver Failure, Acute / complications*
  • Liver Failure, Acute / physiopathology
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome