Characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute liver failure admitted to Australian and New Zealand intensive care units

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about patients with acute liver failure (ALF) in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) is lacking. AIMS: To evaluate whether the pattern of ALF would be similar to previous studies and whether, despite potentially low transplantation rates, mortality would be comparable. METHODS: We obtained data from the ANZ Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database and the ANZ Liver Transplant Registry for 10 years commencing 2005 and analysed for patient outcomes. RESULTS: During the study period, 1 022 698 adults were admitted to intensive care units across ANZ, of which 723 had ALF. The estimated annual incidence of ALF over this period was 3.4/million people and increased over time ..