Ebook: Support of the Acutely Failing Liver

Severe liver dysfunction results in massive physiologic derangement and high mortality. A concerted multidisciplinary effort is needed to support patients with severe acute liver failure (SALF) and treat them appropriately. This requires mobilization of significant resources. There is a need to put in place clinical teams to provide comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic plants and to critically assess emerging technologic advances. In addition to clinical expertise, there is a need for an appropriate scholarly, scientific environment that can allow meaningful experimental studies to be carried out to advance knowledge in the field. Five years go, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Liver Support Unit (SU) was established to meet these needs. In this book, members of the LSU present the most current understanding of the pathophysiology of liver failure and how its various forms and manifestations are classified, and summarize the state of the art in the diagnosis and management of the disease.