CASE REPORTS   Free access

Minerva Anestesiologica 2012 April;78(4):503-6

Copyright © 2012 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Acute liver failure due to acute fatty liver of pregnancy

Wand S. ¹, Waeschle R. M. ¹, Von Ahsen N. ², Hawighorst T. ³, Bräuer A. ¹, Quintel M. ¹ ✉

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; ² Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; 3Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare but serious liver disease and typically occurs during the third trimester. It carries the risk for significant perinatal and maternal mortality. Therefore an early diagnosis and delivery, followed by close monitoring and optimized management of the impaired liver function with all associated problems are necessary to prevent maternal and foetal death. This case report focuses on the management of acute liver failure due to AFLP in a 31 year old women treated in our intensive care unit (ICU) after an emergency C-section.