How is Liver Failure Diagnosed?
DiagnosisOur liver specialists diagnose liver failure based on your symptoms, medical history, and results from various other tests. Those tests include:
- Physical examination
- Laboratory tests including blood tests
- Imaging tests of the abdominal area to see what your liver looks like
- Ultrasound
- Abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- A biopsy of the liver where a needle is used to remove a small piece of liver tissue to examine it in a laboratory
How is Liver Failure Treated?
TreatmentThe method used to treat liver failure depends on what caused the liver failure, the type of liver failure, the stage the liver failure is in, and the overall medical condition.
These liver failure treatment methods include:
- Medications (must be administered quickly to work effectively for acute liver failure)
- N-Acetylcysteine can be used to reverse acute liver failure that is caused by an overdose of acetaminophen
- Other medications can be used to reverse the effects of poisonous mushrooms and other toxins
- Other treatments for chronic liver failure
- Avoiding alcohol or medications that harm the liver
- Eating a healthy diet, avoiding unhealthy food or alcoholic drinks
- Weight loss programs to reduce obesity
- Management of metabolic risk factors, e.g. high blood pressure and diabetes
- Other treatments for acute liver failure
- Medications, laxatives, or enemas to flush toxins and poisons out of the body
- Blood glucose monitoring to monitor blood sugar levels
- Ventilator or breathing tube if severe confusion or sedation is present
- Liver transplant. If liver failure is present, liver transplant evaluation should be discussed. The severity of the liver failure guides how quickly the evaluation takes place.
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Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Liver Failure Treatment
If you are experiencing any of the signs and symptoms of liver failure, it could be a life-threatening situation. Contact a liver specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian if you are seeking treatment for liver disease or liver failure at a location near you.