At the Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery Unit at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, we see many lives changed by liver disease—but few situations are as urgent and emotionally charged as Acute Liver Failure (ALF). It strikes suddenly and without warning. In India, the most common culprits are Hepatitis A and E, viruses often spread through contaminated food and water.

The Silent Threats: Hepatitis A & E

Unlike chronic liver conditions, ALF from Hepatitis A or E affects previously healthy individuals, including:

• Young adults
• Pregnant women (especially vulnerable to Hepatitis E)
• People with no history of liver disease

It often begins like a flu—fever, nausea, or mild jaundice. But within days, the liver stops working.

How Fast Does It Progress?

Very fast.

ALF can lead to:

• Confusion or coma (due to hepatic encephalopathy)
• Bleeding (from impaired clotting)
• Kidney failure
• Multi-organ dysfunction

We’ve seen patients go from being fully functional to critically ill in just 48–72 hours.

What We Do at Apollo

As one of India’s premier liver transplant centers, we act immediately. Our multi-disciplinary team—hepatologists, intensivists, and liver transplant surgeons—work together to:

1. Stabilize the patient in ICU
2. Start CRRT (Dialysis) or plasma exchange to improve chances of salvaging the patient without transplant. Almost 60% of acute liver failure patients can be salvaged without transplant at our centre.
3. Identify the cause and prognosis
4. Prepare for emergency liver transplantation if needed

 Liver Transplant: A Second Chance at Life

For patients who don’t improve with supportive care, timely liver transplant is often the only option. At our unit, we’ve successfully performed emergency transplants for ALF, including young mothers and teenagers struck by viral hepatitis.

With timely intervention, survival rates exceed 88-90%. Many of our patients return to school, work, and family life completely healthy.

A Real Story (De-identified)

One of our most inspiring recoveries was a 19-year-old boy who developed ALF from Hepatitis A. He was unconscious when admitted. Within 48 hours, he underwent a successful living donor liver transplant. Today, he’s back at college, playing cricket, and mentoring other young patients.

What You Should Know

• Prevention matters: Hepatitis A and E spread through unsafe water and food. Vaccination (for Hep A) and good hygiene can prevent infection.
• Early signs: Jaundice with confusion, vomiting, or drowsiness is a red flag. Seek immediate care.
• Apollo is equipped: We are among the few centers in India performing life-saving liver transplants 24×7 for acute liver failure.

The post Acute Liver Failure: When Every Hour Counts appeared first on Liver Transplant International.