Anesthesia with liver failure

Abstract

Liver failure can be categorized into acute liver failure, chronic liver failure and acute decompensation of chronic liver failure, the so-called acute-on-chronic liver failure, the incidence of which has increased over the last few years. Liver failure leads to a variety of pathophysiological changes where the extent is dependent on the nature and duration of the liver disease. This includes restriction of synthesis and metabolism, such as coagulation defects. Especially chronic liver failure is associated with malfunction of extrahepatic organs, such as the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system and the kidneys. In addition to these pathophysiological alterations the Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification (CTP) and the model of end stage liver disease (MELD) are used for perioperative risk stratification.