- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Chapter 174 Imaging the abdomen in the critically ill
- Chapter 175 Hepatic function in the critically ill
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 826) Hepatic function in the critically ill
- Chapter:
- (p. 826) Hepatic function in the critically ill
- Author(s):
Andreas Kortgen
and Michael Bauer
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0175
The liver with its parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells plays a key role in the organism with manifold functions of metabolism, synthesis, detoxification, excretion, and host response. This requires a portfolio of different tests to obtain an overview of hepatic function. In the critically ill hepatic dysfunction is common and potentially leading to extrahepatic organ dysfunctions culminating in multi-organ failure. Conventional laboratory measures are used to evaluate hepatocellular damage, cholestasis, or synthesis. They provide valuable (differential) diagnostic data and can yield prognostic information in chronic liver diseases, especially when used in scoring systems such as the ‘model for end-stage liver disease’. However, they have short-comings in the critically ill in assessing rapid changes in hepatic function and liver blood flow. In contrast, dynamic quantitative liver function tests measure current liver function with respect to the ability to eliminate and/or metabolize a specific substance. In addition, they are dependent on sinusoidal blood flow. Liver function tests have prognostic significance in the critically ill and may be used to guide therapy.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Chapter 174 Imaging the abdomen in the critically ill
- Chapter 175 Hepatic function in the critically ill
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care