Understanding Acute Liver Failure: A Sudden Medical Emergency
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acute liver failure is a serious liver condition that develops suddenly. As Dr. A S Soin from Medanta Gurugram explains, acute liver failure is basically a "liver attack" - quite like a heart attack or a brain stroke. It affects the person suddenly, over a matter of a few days, a person who was perfectly well and healthy before.
Causes of Acute Liver Failure
According to Dr. Soin, acute liver failure is commonly caused by several factors:
Viral Hepatitis: Hepatitis E and Hepatitis A are common causes
Hepatitis B: Particularly in adults
Wilson's Disease: Primarily affects children, caused by a disorder in copper metabolism due to an enzyme deficiency
Recognising the Symptoms
The progression of acute liver failure can be alarmingly quick. Dr. Soin outlines the following journey that patients typically experience:
Initial stage - deep jaundice (yellowish discolouration of the skin and eyes)
Coagulopathy or bleeding tendency because our liver cannot produce clotting factors
Slowly progress into neurological state - confusion and drowsiness
Condition advances to pre-coma and eventually coma if not treated promptly
Treatment Approaches
Dr. Soin emphasises that patients experiencing acute liver failure need urgent referral to specialised liver care facilities or advanced liver disease centres. The treatment options include:
Medical Management: Some patients respond well to medical treatment and recover well over a matter of a few days to weeks
Emergency Liver Transplant: Large numbers of patients require an emergency liver transplant as a life-saving measure
Specialised Care at Medanta
At Medanta Liver Institute, Dr. Soin highlights that we have a special rapid response liver failure team to handle acute liver failure cases. Speciality of this team is:
Ability to receive emergency calls from patients, families and referring physicians across India and internationally
Transportation arrangements via air or road ambulance to our liver services, where they can be cared for in a specialised liver ICU with medical or surgical treatment
Perform emergency liver transplants if necessary.
The Importance of Quick Action
The key takeaway from Dr. Soin's insights is that if you have acute liver failure, it is a medical emergency and for this you require immediate action. With proper and timely intervention, you can recover and return to normal life, either through medical treatment or liver transplantation.
FAQs
What is acute liver failure?
Acute liver failure happens when liver function worsens very fast over a few days or weeks even if there was no earlier liver problem. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin (jaundice), issues with blood clotting, and problems with brain function (encephalopathy).
How does acute liver failure differ from chronic liver disease?
Acute liver failure comes on in people with no history of liver trouble. In contrast, chronic liver disease develops over months or years due to ongoing liver damage. Acute liver issues can escalate fast leading to serious health problems in a short time.
What causes acute liver failure?
The main causes often involve viral hepatitis, including Hepatitis A, B, and E. Overdosing on certain medicines like acetaminophen or paracetamol, exposure to toxins, autoimmune hepatitis and some metabolic problems like Wilson's disease in kids can also lead to it.
What are the signs someone might be experiencing acute liver failure?
Symptoms to watch for include yellow skin and eyes, which is jaundice, belly pain, feeling sick with nausea or throwing up, confusion or feeling out of it, extreme tiredness and bruising or bleeding. If these signs happen, it is crucial to get medical help without delay.
Can acute liver failure be prevented?
Some cases of liver issues can be avoided using hepatitis vaccines, taking medications (like acetaminophen), steering clear of harmful liver toxins and catching and treating conditions before they lead to liver failure.
Is acute liver failure always fatal without a transplant?
No, not every case needs a transplant. Some people, those who develop certain viral hepatitis or drug-related liver damage, can get better with focused treatment. But in many serious cases, an emergency transplant becomes necessary.
How fast does acute liver failure get worse?
It can get worse very fast and sometimes turns from mild symptoms to a coma within just a few days. This is why going to a liver specialist right away is very important.
How do doctors diagnose acute liver failure?
Doctors use these methods to make the diagnosis:
Blood tests to assess liver function
Coagulation studies
Viral serology
Toxicology screening
Imaging studies.
Liver biopsy
What steps should family members take if they think a loved one has acute liver failure?
Acting fast is crucial in this situation. Go straight to an emergency room ideally at a hospital with specialised liver care. Family members should gather details about the person's medicines, recent illnesses or possible toxic exposures to help figure out the cause.
