Can the liver be treated using blood treatment procedures similar to those used for kidney dialysis?
Yes, but only with restrictions and only in specialised liver intensive care units, for example those attached to liver transplant centres. This type of treatment cannot be offered to outpatients. Short treatments repeated over a period of weeks or months are of little help. Liver support machines, where the patient is continuously connected to a machine can be employed in cases of acute liver failure caused, for example, by poisoning. This applies to intensive care patients who are suffering from acute, life-threatening hepatic coma. However, this method of treatment is not suitable for patients suffering from chronic liver diseases (chronic viral hepatitis) or liver cancer. Due to the level of risk involved for the patient, this treatment can only justified in the case of hepatic coma.
