Premium
MARS treatment in posthepatectomy liver failure
Author(s) -
Van De Kerkhove MaartenPaul,
De Jong Koert P.,
Rijken Arjen M.,
De Pont AnneCornélie J. M.,
Van Gulik Thomas M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1034/j.1478-3231.23.s.3.2.x
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , liver failure , medicine , complication , regimen , surgery , gastroenterology , astrobiology , physics
Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a dramatic complication following extensive liver resection or liver resection in a compromised liver, leading to death in 80% of cases. Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) is able to extract water and protein bound toxins out of the blood in liver failure patients. This paper describes the initial experience in the Netherlands using the MARS liver assist device in five patients with PHLF. In all patients, improvement of biochemical parameters was observed during MARS treatment along with clinical improvement in three patients. One patient survived. No clear guidelines for MARS treatment and prognostic factors for outcome after MARS treatment with regard to this patient group are available. In this paper, a MARS treatment regimen for PHLF is suggested based on literature and our own experience.