Abstract
Patients with cirrhosis frequently require admission to the intensive care unit as
complications arise in the course of their disease. These admissions are associated
with high short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. Thus, understanding and characterizing
complications and unique needs of patients with cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver
failure helps providers identify appropriate level of care and evidence-based treatments.
While there is no widely accepted critical care admission criteria for patients with
cirrhosis, the presence of organ failure and primary or nosocomial infections are
associated with particularly high in-hospital mortality. Optimal management of patients
with cirrhosis in the critical care setting requires a system-based approach that
acknowledges deviations from canonical pathophysiology. In this review, we discuss
appropriate considerations and evidence-based practices for the general care of patients
with cirrhosis and critical illness.
Keywords
cirrhosis - critical care - acute-on-chronic liver failure - sepsis
