Extracorporeal liver support.

Mortality of patients with liver failure remains unacceptably high. As the liver has an enormous potential to regenerate, extracorporeal liver support devices may allow patients with liver failure to be bridged to recovery. Alternatively, liver assist may allow patients with advanced liver disease to be managed until a suitable organ for transplant is available. Current approaches to liver support include the use of biological devices that contain hepatocytes and those that function as detoxification devices, and artificial liver support systems. This review describes the current state of the art and existing data on the use of these devices to treat patients with liver failure.