Liver Transplantation on Emergency

Abstract

The main indications of liver transplantation on emergency are fulminant hepatitis (FH) and the non-function of the graft (primary or secondary) or early allograft dysfunction. Patients with FH must be referred to specialized centers that have access to liver transplantation. The King’s College Hospital (KCH) criteria remain the most widely used prognostic criteria of acute liver failure or FH worldwide. These criteria are essentially used in France and are probably less efficient. The most frequent cause worldwide is paracetamol, however, liver failure can be at the head of a multiorgan failure. After transplantation, the 1 and 3 years survival rate were 78 and 73%, respectively. The main causes of death following liver transplantation are sepsis, multiorgan failure, and cerebral death.