Microdialysis in the management of hepatic encephalopathy.

Introduction: Fulminant hepatic encephalopathy has a high mortality.

Methods: This case report describes the role of cerebral microdialysis as an adjunct to the management of a 49 - year-old woman with hepatic encephalopathy secondary to a paracetamol overdose.

Results: The application of the microdialysis technique, by detecting a very low cerebral glucose concentration in the presence of a normal plasma glucose, assisted in clinical decision making.

Conclusions: Cerebral microdialysis, by enabling continuous on-line monitoring of substrate delivery and metabolism, may have a role in the management of patients with fulminant hepatic failure.