Objective: Evaluation of the results of emergency liver transplantation in patients with acute liver failure.
Design: Analysis of 25 patients with acute liver failure.
Setting: University Hospital Rotterdam Dijkzigt.
Method: Twenty-five patients with acute liver failure were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in January 1989-May 1993. Patients were selected for emergency liver transplantation according to the Clichy criteria (presence of confusion or coma and factor V activity less than 20-30%).
Results: Liver transplantation was indicated in 17 patients and performed in 13. The 1-year survival rate in patients with a liver transplant was 85%. Four patients with an indication for liver transplantation, but who could not be transplanted died. All 8 patients without an indication for emergency liver transplantation survived.
Conclusion: Survival after liver transplantation for acute hepatic failure is now about 80%; the Clichy criteria appear to be helpful in selecting patients with acute hepatic failure for liver transplantation.