What is artificial liver treatment?
Feb 12, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jin Zhongkui
Introduction
Artificial liver is a therapeutic approach used to treat liver insufficiency or other diseases. It employs extracorporeal mechanical, chemical, or biological devices to temporarily or partially replace liver functions and maintain normal physiological activities of the liver. Patients with severe coagulation disorders or active infections are not eligible for artificial liver therapy. Treatment modalities of artificial liver include plasma exchange, hemoperfusion, and continuous blood purification.
Artificial liver is a therapeutic method used to treat liver insufficiency or other diseases. It employs mechanical, chemical, or biological devices outside the body to temporarily or partially replace liver function and maintain normal physiological liver activities. However, patients with severe coagulation disorders or active infections are not suitable candidates for artificial liver therapy.
The treatment modalities of artificial liver include plasma exchange, hemoperfusion, and continuous blood purification.
1. Plasma Exchange: This procedure involves removing the patient's blood and separating it into plasma and cellular components using a plasma separator outside the body. The plasma containing harmful pathogenic substances is discarded, while the cellular components are mixed with an equal volume of plasma substitute and then reinfused back into the patient’s body.
2. Hemoperfusion
This method is used for patients with severe hepatitis complicated by hepatic coma or cholestasis. It removes toxins from the bloodstream through adsorption mechanisms.
3. Continuous Blood Purification
This approach removes inflammatory mediators from the body, suppresses bacterial infection, improves hemodynamics, and helps regulate immune function and maintain internal environmental stability.
