Acute hepatic failure PB Sherren ST7 ICM
Acute hepatic failure
PB Sherren ST7 ICM
Learning Objective
• Understand the different types of Acute hepatic failure (AHF)• Acute Liver Failure (ALF)• Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (AoCLF)• Post-hepatectomy liver failure
• Appropriate therapies and support of the liver
• Role of transplantation and other advanced support
ALF definition
Development of severe hepatic dysfunction within 6 months of the onset of symptoms in the absence of chronic liver disease• Acute Hepatitis with elevation AST/ALT• INR>1.5• Encephalopathy
Hyperacute, Acute or Subacute
ALF
Common causes of ALF
AoCLF
Acute hepatic insult manifesting as jaundice and coagulopathy, complicated within 4 weeks by ascites +/- encephalopathy in a patient with previously chronic liver disease
Bil >85 μmol/L and INR >1.5 mandatory
AoCLF vs end stage CLF
AoCLF
Precipitants of AoCLF
Post hepatectomy liver failure
Impaired ability of the liver to maintain its synthetic, excretory and detoxifying functions characterised by impaired coagulation and hyperbilirubinaemia on or after postoperative day 5.
50/50 definition - PT >50% and Bilirubin >50μmol/L
Grade A, B and C
Caring for the liver patient
Don’t forget the basics!
History and Examination
Send bloods ++• FBC• Coag, fibrinogen, TEG/ROTEM• Biochemistry• LFTs and GGT• Paracetamol/salicylate level• Arterial ammonia• Blood gases (Lact/glucose)• β-HCG• Viral hepatitis serology• Autoimmune screen, copper and caeruloplasmin• AFP• HIV test
Other investigations
• Liver US and doppler ASAP
• +/- CT/MRI
• Liver Bx?
Management
Good ICU Housekeeping• Stop hepatotoxic drugs• Optimise haemodynamics for oxygen delivery• Steriods?• CVC/Vascath/arterial line early with US. PAC?• Invasive ventilation +/- neuroprotection?• 30o head up• Early enteral nutrition (protein 1-1.5g/kg/day)• Stress ulcer prophylaxis (PPI)• Aperients• Antimicrobials• Glycaemic control
Specific Rx
• Paracetamol – NAC• Budd Chiarri – Anticoagulation/TIPS• Autoimmune – Steroids• Acute Fatty Liver of pregnancy – Delivery
baby•Wilsons – Chelating agents• Lamivudine and Aciclovir
Paracetamol OD• Common poisoning
• <1% cases of OD result in significant hepatotoxicty
• CYP450 convert paracetamol to NAPQI
• NAPQI EXTREMELY hepatotoxic
• Usually conjugated with hepatic glutathione
Paracetamol OD
• Bad• Malnutrition, ETOH abuse, enzyme inducing drugs• Large staggered OD• Delayed presentation and initiation of NAC
• N-acetylcysteine augments glutathione levels
• NAC highly effective if delivered within 8-12hrs
• Prescott normogram used to determine risk
Cardiovascular• Hyperdynamic and hypervolaemic
•Moderate incidence adrenal dysfunction
• CO monitoring and fluid responsiveness
• PAC • Right ventricular cardiomyopathy• Hepatopulmonary shunt and pulm Ht
• Noradrenaline
Variceal bleed• Restore Blood volume• Correction of coagulopathy• Reduce portal vascular resistance• Terlipressin/octreotide• 5/7 Abx (Tazcoin/cephalosporin)
• PPI?• OGD• Banding• Glue• Stenting
• Sengstaken• TIPS
Coagulopathy• Coagulation• Low fibrinogen• Low levels of II, V, VII, IX, X, APC, Protein C/S• Mixed fibrinolytic/antifibrinolytic effects
• ‘Auto-anticoagulation’ vs prothrombotic• NO routine correction of INR (incl for lines)• Thromboelastometry helpful (TEG vs ROTEM) • Everything changes if bleeding • Generally platelets/fib 1st• FFP/cyro vs PCC/FCC• TXA and Calcium
Ventilation
• Hepatopulmonary syndrome and shunting• Pulmonary hypertension may need ↓PVR• IAH/IACS
• Early intubation for Grade III/IV HE• Neuroprotection vs standard ARDsnet• LRTI/VAP common, low threshold for Abx• Consider paracentesis in IACS
Encephalopathy and cerebral oedema
• Common in ALF and grade III/IV HE and NH4 >150• Cytotoxic and vasogenic/hyperaemic in origin• Poor autoregulation• ICP>25mmHg and CPP<50mmHg bad prognosis• Sepsis/SIRS detrimental• Reverse Jugular venous oximetry • ICP bolt risk vs benefit• TBI like ICP management• NO evidence for neuromonitoring• CRRT/plasma exchange
Hepatorenal Syndrome• Not the commonest cause of AKI in AHF• ATN/nephrotoxic drugs/glomerulonephritis/IACS
• HRS diagnosis of exclusion• Type 1 vs Type 2• Results from reduced perfusion• Splanchnic vasodilation• Poor autoregulation • ↓ renal prostaglandin synthesis and other vasoactive mediators
• HAS/terlipressin• Early CRRT
Renal Replacement Therapy• Haemofiltration vs HD/HDF?
• Some low level evidence for NH4+ clearance
• Start early
• Esp if Grade III/IV HE and NH4+>150
• Aim for dose of 35ml/kg/hr (Calculated vs actual dose received?)
• No evidence for high volume haemofiltration
Microbiology• Highly susceptible to infection (LRTI/SBP/urinary/lines/wounds)
• SIRS/hyperdynamic/endotoxin translocation vs Bacteraemia
• Proven rates of 80% bacterial and 30% fungal
• Gram +ve in 1st 3-4 days followed by gram –ve and fungal infections
• Prophylaxis offers no mortality benefit
• Maintain high vigilance
• Refer to local guidelines and micro team
ALF transplant Criteria• Paracemol vs non paracetamol• King’s college criteria
• Paracetamol• pH <7.3 >24hrs post overdose• Grade III/IV HE + Creat >300 + PT >100s
• Non Paracetamol• pH <7.3 or PT >100s• HE III/IV with any 3 of the following
• Age <10 or >40• Bil >300• Jaundice to HE time <7 days• PT >50s• Seronegative hepatitis or drug induced
Transplant• Multidisciplinary decision
• Specialised service managed at supraregional centres
• If in doubt=refer/discuss
• Outcomes from transplant depend on ALF vs AoCLF vs CLF
• Live donor vs DBD vs DCD. Orthotopic and Domino Tx
• Complex anaesthetic+++
• Protocolised ICU post op management • TEM guided coagulation (balance bleeding vs HA/anastomosis flow)• Antibiotics• Immunomodulation• Early US and dopplers• MDT approach
Artificial Liver Support• Bridge to transplant or recovery?
• Evidence?
• Detoxifying systems• Albumin dialysis• MARS (albumin dialysis/detoxifying and de-ionising columns)• Plasmaphoresis with FFP promising in ALF
• Bioartificial Systems• Extracorporeal liver perfusion old technology• Other systems using hepatocytes• ELAD study pending publication
Questions?
Conclusion
• Don’t forget the basics• Resuscitate the patient • Good ICU house keeping• ALF vs AoCLF vs CLF• Antidotes/Specific Rx where appropriate• Complex/systemic disease with multi-organ
effects • EARLY referral/discussion with a liver unit