Results of a protocol for the management of patients with fulminant liver failure.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety and efficacy of a protocol to support management of intracerebral pressure in patients with fulminant liver failure (FLF).

DESIGN AND SETTING

A prospective series was conducted between May 2004 and September 2006 at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, a 650-bed teaching hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.

PATIENTS

We recruited consecutive patients with FLF and stage 3 or 4 encephalopathy.

INTERVENTIONS

We placed an intracranial pressure monitor in each patient and employed a protocol to support decisions regarding hemostatic management and prevention and treatment of intracranial hypertension (IHTN). Treatment modalities included hypothermia, hypocarbia, intravenous pentobarbital, intravenous mannitol and vasopressor titration for maintenance of cerebral perfusion pressure. The main outcome measure was survival in transplant candidates.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-two patients entered the study and 21 (95%) had at least one episode of IHTN. Eighty-two discrete episodes of IHTN occurred, and 78 of these (95%) resolved with treatment. Overall survival was 55%. Eleven of 18 (61%) of transplant candidates survived with good neurologic outcome. No patient died from isolated cerebral edema. Three patients had intracranial hemorrhages related to the intracranial pressure monitor.

CONCLUSIONS

Protocol-driven management of intracranial pressure in FLF can result in good clinical outcomes in most transplant candidates, even if IHTN occurs.