Liver Failure

To diagnose the problem, we’ll ask about your health history and any possible exposure to toxins. You will also need a physical exam. Your care provider may check for signs of hepatitis, such as jaundice, fatigue, and abdominal pain.

You may also need:

• Blood tests. These check your liver enzymes and bilirubin levels. They also measure your blood's ability to thicken (coagulate). This is called prothrombin time.
• Imaging tests. You may have a CT scan or MRI. These check your liver.

Treatment for acute liver failure depends on the underlying cause.

If your care provider thinks you took too much acetaminophen, you will probably be given activated charcoal to reduce how much medicine is absorbed in your gastrointestinal tract. Or you may be given N-acetylcysteine, which helps with an acetaminophen overdose.

Other medications or steroids might be prescribed for other causes.

If no treatment works, you might need a liver transplant.

We regularly serve as a valuable second (and even third and fourth) opinion resource for patients referred from far and wide. Other area hospitals and gastroenterologists often depend on our physicians to handle their most complex and challenging cases.