Liver surgery is one of the most complex surgical interventions with high risk and potential for complications. Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a serious complication of liver surgery that occurs in about 10% of patients undergoing major liver surgery. It is the main source of morbidity and mortality. Appropriate surgical techniques and intensive care management are important in preventing PHLF. Early start of the liver support systems is very important for the PHLF patient to recover, survive, or be ready for a liver transplant. Nonbiological and biological liver support systems should be used in PHLF to prepare for treatment or organ transplantation. The definition of the state, underlying pathophysiology and treatment strategies will be reviewed here.

Liver failure represents a critical medical condition, marked by the rapid decline of hepatic functions. Emerging therapies, notably therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), have demonstrated potential in mitigating these conditions through their roles in detoxification and hepatic support. The utility of these treatments, whether applied individually or in tandem, constitutes a significant area of research concerning the management of liver failure in pediatric patients. This study aims to evaluate the role and efficacy of TPE or TPE combined with CVVHDF in the treatment of liver failure among children. This retrospective study was conducted in a LTICU by reviewing the medical history of pediatric patients aged 1 month to 18 years. Patients were admitted between January 1, 2021 and December 1, 2023 due to acute liver failure or acute-chronic liver failure. The study evaluated those who received TPE or continuous renal replacement therapy combined with TPE. In statistical analyses, a P -value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. The study involved 24 patients with liver failure, comprising 13 males and 11 females. Sixteen patients (66.6%) received only TPE, while 8 patients (33.4%) were treated with TPE and CVVHDF. For patients treated only with TPE, the median INR reduced from 3.1 to 1.26, alanine aminotransferase from 1255 to 148, and aspartate aminotransferase from 2189 to 62. Similar significant reductions were observed in the TPE and CVVHDF group: INR from 3.9 to 1.26, alanine aminotransferase from 1749 to 1148, and aspartate aminotransferase from 1489 to 62. These changes were statistically significant with P -values of .01 for each parameter in both groups. Overall, 14 patients survived without requiring a liver transplant, while 4 patients underwent liver transplantation. Our study on pediatric liver failure treatment shows that both standalone TPE and its combination with CVVHDF are effective, especially as a bridge to transplantation. With 58% transplant-free survival, these therapies demonstrate significant clinical improvements. Future multicentric studies are needed for broader validation of these findings in liver failure management.

BACKGROUND Recently, there has been a recommendation to utilize a combination of supportive extracorporeal therapies, specifically plasma exchange and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration, in patients with acute liver failure. This 15-year retrospective study aimed to evaluate supportive extracorporeal therapy, including plasma exchange and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration, for 114 adults with acute liver failure awaiting liver transplant. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this retrospective study, the medical records of 1288 adult patients who underwent liver transplantation and 161 adult patients who received alternative therapy were analyzed; 114 patients who received combined supportive extracorporeal therapy for acute liver failure were included in the study. Biochemical laboratory data were compared before and after therapy. RESULTS The study included 50 male and 64 female patients. The first group (34 patients) recovered with liver transplantation, and 4 patients died in the first year after liver transplantation. In the second group (80 patients), 66 patients recovered without liver transplantation, while 14 patients died within the first 2 weeks after therapy. All patients showed significant reductions in serum hepatic function tests (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and total bilirubin), ammonia, and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio after discontinuation of combined supportive extracorporeal therapy (P<0.01). There was also a significant improvement in the hemodynamic parameter. CONCLUSIONS This combined extracorporeal therapy can be used as a supportive treatment for both recovery and bridge to liver transplantation in patients with acute liver failure. In addition, treatment can be continued until liver regeneration and until a usable donor is found.

Background: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a serious condition characterized by sudden liver dysfunction, jaundice and hepatic encephalopathy. Its mortality rate of approximately 80% underscores the urgent need for effective treatments. Supportive extracorporeal therapies (SET), which temporarily support liver function and remove toxins, have shown promise in improving outcomes in acute liver failure (ALF). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of dual supportive extracorporeal therapy (SET) and mono supportive extracorporeal therapy in patients with acute liver failure.Methods: A total of 127 patients with acute liver failure were included in this retrospective, single-center study. Of these, 62 patients received dual supportive extracorporeal therapy and 65 patients received mono supportive extracorporeal therapy. Primary endpoints were survival without the need for liver transplantation and mortality. Secondary endpoints included resolution of encephalopathy and normalization of International Normalized Ratio (INR).Results: In the dual supportive extracorporeal therapy group, 59.6% of patients survived without the need for liver transplantation, while 27.4% achieved recovery with liver transplantation. The mortality rate in this group was 12.9%. Significant regression of encephalopathy grade was observed in 87% of patients, and the 1 year mortality rate for liver transplant recipients was 10.7%. In the mono supportive extracorporeal therapy group, 61.5% of patients experienced a successful recovery without the need for liver transplantation, with a mortality rate of 29.2%. Significant improvement in the grade of encephalopathy was observed in 70.7% of patients.Conclusion: Both dual supportive extracorporeal therapy (CVVHDF and PE) and mono supportive extracorporeal therapy (PE) were associated with significant improvements in renal and hepatic biochemical parameters, blood ammonia levels, and neurological status in patients with acute liver failure associated with grade III-IV hepatic encephalopathy. In particular, dual support was associated with improved hemodynamic stability, lactic acidosis and acid–base balance. Survival in acute liver failure in our retrospective cohort using a protocolized approach to extracorporeal therapies is higher compared to previously published large ALF studies. This protocolized approach warrants further prospective studies.

Purpose: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening disease characterized by rapid-onset liver dysfunction, coagulopathy, and encephalopathy in patients without chronic liver disease. Today, the combined application of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) and plasma exchange (PEX), which are forms of supportive extracorporeal therapy (SECT), with conventional liver therapy in ALF is recommended. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the effects of combined SECT in pediatric patients with ALF.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 42 pediatric patients, followed in the liver transplantation intensive care unit. The patients had ALF and received PEX supportive therapy with combined CVVHDF. The biochemical lab values of the results for the patients before the first combined SECT and after the last combined SECT were analyzed comparatively.Results: Of the pediatric patients included in our study, 20 were girls and 22 were boys. Liver transplantation was performed in 22 patients, and 20 patients recovered without transplantation. After the discontinuation of combined SECT, all patients had significantly lower serum liver function test results (total bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase), ammonia, and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio levels than the previous levels (p < 0.01). Hemodynamic parameters (i.e., mean arterial pressure) also improved significantly.Discussion and Conclusion: Combined CVVHDF and PEX treatment significantly improved biochemical parameters and clinical findings, including encephalopathy, in pediatric patients with ALF. PEX therapy combined with CVVHDF is a proper supportive therapy for bridging or recovery.

SUMMARY: A better understanding of the innate and adaptive cells in the COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is a necessity for the development of effective treatment methods and vaccines. We studied phenotypic features of innate and adaptive immune cells, oxidative burst, phagocytosis and apoptosis. One hundred and three patients with COVID-19 grouped according to their clinical features as mild (35%), moderate (40.8%), and severe (24.3%) were included in the study. Monocytes from all COVID-19 patients were CD16 ⁺ pro-inflammatory monocytes. Neutrophils were mature and functional. No defect has been found in ROS production of monocytes and neutrophils as well as no defect in their apoptosis. As bridging cells of the innate and adaptive immune system; the percentage of NK cells was in normal range whereas the percentages of CD3 ^- CD8 ⁺ CD56 ⁺ innate lymphoid and CD3 ⁺ CD56 ⁺ NK like T cells were found to be high in the severe cases of COVID-19. Although absolute numbers of all lymphocyte subsets were low and showed a tendency for a gradual decrease in accord with the disease progression, in all COVID-19 patients, the lymphocyte subset with the most decreased absolute number was B lymphocytes, followed by CD4 + T cells in the severe cases. The percentages of suppressive, CD3 ⁺ CD4 ^- CD8 ^- ; HLA-DR ⁺ CD3 ⁺ and CD28 ^- CD8 ⁺ cells were found to be significantly increased. Importantly, we demonstrated spontaneous caspase-3 activation and increased lymphocyte apoptosis. Altogether our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects lymphocytes not innate cells. So that, it may interrupt the cross-talk between adaptive and innate immune systems.