Living with Devices

Liver Support Systems

Although primarily experimental, artificial hepatic support systems are used when the liver can no longer perform its function of removing toxins from the body. These systems serve as a temporary liver support while allowing the liver to regenerate on its own or until a suitable organ becomes available for transplantation.

Methods of liver support used include:

• Extracorporeal whole organ perfusion (historical)
• Bioartifical livers
• Extracorporeal liver-assist devices, including charcoal column hemoperfusion and plasmapheresis
• Hepatocyte transplantation

Reference and Publication Information

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The content on this page was originally created on August 12, 2003 by UNOS and last modified on October 10, 2003.

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