Synopses & Reviews
Acute liver failure (ALF), or fulminant hepatic failure, is a distinct clinical syndrome that crosses medical disciplines. A relatively rare condition, ALF remains a major focus of clinical and research attention. With the advent of transplantation, the importance of understanding management of ALF has taken on a new urgency. In this first volume dedicated to ALF, the editors bring together a distinguished team of contributors to describe the etiology, 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 the authors' expertise, this comprehensive volume should prove invaluable.
Review
"The book is written by several prominent clinicians and experienced researchers who have given thoughtful and excellent overviews of different aspects of acute liver failure. The chapters are detailed, covering not only the basic concepts of the pathophysiology and general management of this syndrome but also future directions of research...It is current, comprehensive, well written, and well organised, all of which make it very easy to read. Most of all, this ambitious endeavor serves all the audiences that it targets." Hari Conjeevaram, The Lancet
Review
"This slim book is the first to be dedicated to acute liver failure...the chapters read easily as individual essays... This book is a landmark in the field and worthy of monagraph status." Elizabeth Ann Fagan, Doody's Heath Sciences Book Review Journal
Review
"To summarise, this is an excellent up-to-date refernce book for the complex and perplexing syndrome 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." Hari Conjeevaram, The Lancet
Review
"We congratulate the international team of authors who wrote this timely book on acute hepatic failure. As a result of its comprehensive coverage, this volume will prove invaluable to internists, hepatologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and other clinicians involved in the diagnosis and treatment of acute liver failure. The medical litertaure had a place for such a comprehensive reference for a number of years, and, finally, that place is filled." Lehel Somogyi and David Nelson, Modern Pathology
Synopsis
This 1997 text is a guide to acute liver failure aetiology, pathology and treatment.
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.