Acute Liver Failure

Description:
Acute liver failure (ALF), or fulminant hepatic failure, is a distinct clinical syndrome which crosses medical disciplines. A relatively rare condition, ALF remains a major focus of clinical and research attention and with the advent of transplantation, the importance of understanding management of ALF has taken on a new urgency. In this 1997 volume, the editors bring together a distinguished team of contributors to describe the aetiology, pathology and treatment of this important syndrome. Also covered are consensus techniques in liver transplantation for ALF patients, as well as descriptions of artificial and bioartificial liver assist devices. A section on future treatments includes hepatocyte transplantation, auxiliary grafts and other temporary liver support. Notable for the high level of authors' expertise, this comprehensive volume should prove invaluable to internists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and intensive care providers.

Review:
Review of the hardback: '... an excellent update of the current concepts of a complex syndrome ... It is the first textbook solely devoted to this important topic. The book is written by several prominent clinicians and researchers who have given thoughtful and excellent overviews of different aspects of acute liver failure ... The book has many strengths. It is current, comprehensive, well written, and well organised, all of which make it very easy to read. Most of all, this ambitious endeavour serves all the audiences that it targets.' The Lancet Review of the hardback: 'This book is a landmark in the field and worthy of monograph status.' Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal

Table of Contents:
Part I. Clinical Syndrome and Etiology: 1. Classification and clinical syndromes of Acute Liver Failure; 2. Viral hepatitis and Acute Liver Failure; 3. Drug hepatoxicity and Acute Liver Failure; 4. Acetaminophen-related Acute Liver Failure; 5. Unusual causes of Acute Liver Failure; 6. Pediatric aspects of Acute Liver Failure; Part II. Mechanisms of Disease and Multisystem Involvement: 7. The role of cytokines and immune mechanisms in Acute Liver Failure; 8. The pathology of Acute Liver Failure; 9. Hepatic replication and liver regeneration; Part III. Intensive Care Management; 10. Medical management of Acute Liver Failure; 11. Circulatory derangements: monitoring and management of heart, kidney and brain; 12. Brain edema and intracranial hypertension in Acute Liver Failure; 13. Management of infection in Acute Liver Failure; Part IV. Transplantation: 14. Prognosis and consideration of transplantation; 15. Liver transplantation in patients with Acute Liver Failure: the European experience; 16. Liver transplantation in patients with Acute Liver Failure: the American experience; 17. Auxiliary liver transplantation; Part V. Artificial and Bioartifical Liver Devices: 18. Extracorporeal liver support: historical background and critical analysis; 19. Hepatocyte culture and bioreactor design for liver support systems; 20. Clinical experience with an extracorporeal liver assist device (ELAD); Part VI. Other Approaches: 21. Treatment of Acute Liver Failure by high volume plasmapheresis; 22. Dialysis/adsorption techniques for Acute Liver Failure; 23. Hepatocyte transplantation in liver failure and inherited metabolic disorders.