[Critically ill patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis - New aspects and intensive care management].

The prevalence of liver cirrhosis in the German population is about 1 %. Clinically, compensated liver cirrhosis should be distinguished from decompensated cirrhosis with poor prognosis. Decompensated cirrhosis is defined by the occurrence of complications and consequences of portal hypertension (such as ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy and hepatorenal syndrome) and progressive liver failure. Optimizing the management of these patients in the intensive care unit could essentially improve their outcome.