ABSTRACT

Hepatic dialysis is an artificial extracorporeal liver support device designed to filter out toxins accumulated in patients with acute liver failure. Although it is a rare entity encountered in neonates, acute liver failure is a highly fatal condition, with seventy percent resulting in mortality without liver transplantation. Scientific data on extracorporeal liver support concerning the pediatric population is scarce in literature. Artificial extracorporeal liver support devices in the form of bridge therapy have been designed to improve survival of patients with acute liver failure while awaiting transplantation.