For the successful management of critical situations before and after liver surgery for the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure and end-stage liver cirrhosis, artificial liver support is required. This book provides an overview of the possibilities and limitations of the procedures and devices available for artificial liver support.

For years clinicians and scientists have been trying to improve the treatment of acute hepatic failure. Hemodialysis procedures were refined. The treatment of fulminant hepatic failure and end-stage liver cirrhosis by liver transplantation became a standard procedure. For the successful management of critical situations before and after liver surgery, artificial liver support is required. An overview is provided of the possibilities and limitations of the existing procedures and devices available for artificial liver support. The results achieved with albumin dialysis, the Prometheus System, and dialysis and hemofiltration or plasma exchange, as well as modular extracorporeal liver support and the Amsterdam bioartificial liver, and their effects are discussed. The book addresses the remaining problems and expectations for the future of clinical hepatocyte transplantation and stem cell therapy. An exceptional overview of the problems and future perspectives in the field of artificial liver support.

Title of principal contributors. Title of chairpersons. Preface.- Introduction. Acute hepatic failure ? when do we need liver support?- Section I: Artificial Devices: 1 Overview on artificial liver support in patients with acute liver failure. 2 Experience with albumin dialysis MARS in liver failure. 3 Special device: Prometheus system. 4 Dialysis, haemofiltration and plasma exchange in acute liver failure.- Section II: Bioartificial Devices: 5 Modular extracorporeal liver support (MELS). 6 The Amsterdam bioartificial liver. 7 Perspectives and future of artificial and bioartificial devices.- Section III: Hepatocyte Transplantation: 8 Latest experimental models in hepatocyte transplantation. 9 Human hepatocyte transplantation.- Section IV: Stem Cells: 10 Liver stem cells. 11 Stem cell regeneration in human liver. Index.