Acute Liver Failure

Body Systems › Hepatic / Biliary System › Acute Liver Failure
Liver/Biliary Clinical reference

Acute Liver Failure

ALF: rapid liver dysfunction (coagulopathy + encephalopathy) in patient without prior liver disease. Most common cause in US: acetaminophen overdose. N-acetylcysteine and liver transplant evaluation critical.

ALF acute liver failure fulminant hepatic failure acute hepatic failure
Terms
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ICD-10
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Evidence
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Latest evidence

Latest evidence

Core official overview

What this condition is

Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons.There are many kinds of liver diseases:Diseases caused by viruses, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.Diseases caused by drugs, poisons, or too much alcohol. Examples include steatotic liver disease and cirrhosis.Liver cancer.Inherited diseases, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson disease.…

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Common tests

Tests performed

INR/PT (key prognostic marker) Bilirubin LFTs BMP (glucose — hypoglycemia risk) Ammonia CBC Blood cultures Acetaminophen level Viral hepatitis panel Autoimmune markers
Common medications

Recognize the drug and the class

N-acetylcysteine (acetaminophen — and benefit in non-acetaminophen ALF) Lactulose + Rifaximin (HE) Glucose infusion (hypoglycemia prevention) FFP/Vitamin K (bleeding) Vasopressors (hemodynamic instability) Emergent liver transplant evaluation (Kings College Criteria)
Related nursing diagnoses

NANDA diagnoses & care plans

Use these direct links to open nursing diagnoses and care-plan support related to Acute Liver Failure.

Decreased Intracranial Adaptive Capacity Risk for Bleeding Deficient Fluid Volume Imbalanced Nutrition
Official education links

Plain-language study support

Useful for plain-language reinforcement and quick review.

Liver Diseases Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons.There are many kinds of liver diseases:Diseases caused by viruses, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.Diseases caused by drugs, poisons, or too much alcohol. Examples include steatotic liver disease and cirrhosis.Liver cancer.Inherited diseases, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson disease.… Hepatitis B What is hepatitis?Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected. It can damage your liver. This swelling and damage can affect how well your liver functions.What is hepatitis B?Hepatitis B is a type of viral hepatitis. It can cause an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) infection. People with an acute infection usually get better… Hepatitis What is hepatitis?Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected. It can damage your liver. This swelling and damage can affect how well your liver functions.Hepatitis can be an acute (short-term) infection or a chronic (long-term) infection. Some types of hepatitis cause only acute infections. Other types can cause both acute and chroni… Hepatitis C What is hepatitis C?Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected. Inflammation can damage organs.There are different types of hepatitis. One type, hepatitis C, is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.Hepatitis C can be acute or chronic:Acute…