If your doctor suspects you have acute liver failure, you'll likely be admitted to a hospital for treatment. Most people with acute liver failure are treated in an intensive care unit.
Questions to expect from your doctor
Your doctor will ask you or your family members questions to try to determine the cause of your acute liver failure. Your doctor may ask:
- When did symptoms begin?
- What prescription medications do you take?
- What over-the-counter medications do you take?
- What herbal supplements do you take?
- Do you use illegal drugs?
- Have you been diagnosed with hepatitis?
- Do you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts?
- How much alcohol do you drink?
- Have you recently started taking new medications?
- Do you take acetaminophen? How much?
- Do liver problems run in your family?
Questions to ask your doctor
If you have been diagnosed with acute liver failure, here are some questions to ask the doctor:
- What caused my acute liver failure?
- Can it be reversed?
- What are the treatments?
- Will I need a liver transplant?
- Does this hospital have a liver transplant unit?
- Should I transfer to a hospital that performs liver transplants?
July 10, 2014
- Goldberg E, et al. Acute liver failure in adults: Etiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 31, 2014.
- Goldberg E, et al. Acute liver failure in adults: Management and prognosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 31, 2014.
- An introduction to liver care. American Liver Foundation. http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/downloads/. Accessed March 31, 2014.
- Acute liver failure. National Institutes of Health. http://livertox.nih.gov/Phenotypes_fail.html. Accessed March 31, 2014.
- Bernal W, et al. Acute liver failure. New England Journal of Medicine. 2013;369:2525.
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