Molecular adsorbent recycling system in treating patients with acute liver failure: a bridge to liver transplantation.

Background: Acute liver failure is still a life-threatening disease although it can be treated by liver transplantation. This study was conducted to assess the molecular adsorbent recycling system (MARS), which may bridge acute liver failure patients to liver transplantation.

Methods: Biochemical indexes and other clinical data were analyzed of 8 patients with acute liver failure, who had been treated by MARS for 34 times and subsequent Piggyback liver transplantation.

A reliable graded acute liver failure model in rats: treatment with internal bioartificial liver.

Background: Appropriate animal models are important for studying acute liver failure. This study was to assess a new suitable rat model for acute liver failure.

Methods: After the right influent hepatic vessels were clamped for a period of time (45, 60 or 90 minutes respectively), the animal model was established by removal of the clamp for restoring blood flow of the right lobes while immediately removal of the median, left lateral and caudate lobes.

Non-bleeding technique in resection of hepatoma: report of 49 cases.

Objective: To investigate the experience and some related problems of non-bleeding technique in partial hepatectomy.

Methods: 49 cases of hepatic tumors were reviewed, including 41 cases of hepatic carcinoma, 3 cases of secondary hepatic carcinoma, 4 cases of haemangioma, and 1 case of hepatic adenoma. Three kinds of bleeding control technique including normothermic complete hepatic vascular exclusion (47/49), complete vascular isolation with hypothermic perfusion (1/49), and partial extracorporeal hepatectomy (1/49) were employed.

The development of a new bioartificial liver and its application in 12 acute liver failure patients.

Aim: Bioartificial liver is a hope of supporting liver functions in acute liver failure patients. Using polysulfon fibers, a new bioartificial liver was developed. The aim of this study was to show whether this bioartificial liver could support liver functions or not.