Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Crit Care Med. Sep 9, 2026; 15(3): 123372
Published online Sep 9, 2026. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.123372
Published online Sep 9, 2026. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.123372
Critical care hepatology: A narrative review of current concepts and management
Iva Kosuta, Ela Curcic Karabaic, Jaksa Babel, Division of Intensive Care, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
Iva Kosuta, Nina Beluhan, Fran Zlopasa, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
Author contributions: Kosuta I conceptualized the manuscript and led the writing process; Curcic Karabaic E, Beluhan N, and Zlopasa F contributed to the literature review, figure preparation, and critical appraisal of the content; Babel J contributed to co-drafting the manuscript and critical appraisal. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: Grammarly was used solely for language editing (grammar, spelling, and clarity). It was not used to generate scientific content, interpret data, or draft conclusions. The authors take full responsibility for the integrity and content of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Iva Kosuta, MD, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, Division of Intensive Care, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Ulica Mije Kišpatića 12, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. ivakosuta@gmail.com
Received: May 18, 2026
Revised: June 2, 2026
Accepted: July 1, 2026
Published online: September 9, 2026
Processing time: 98 Days and 4.6 Hours
Revised: June 2, 2026
Accepted: July 1, 2026
Published online: September 9, 2026
Processing time: 98 Days and 4.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Critical care hepatology has emerged as a distinct multidisciplinary field integrating hepatology, intensive care, and transplant medicine. Modern management of acute liver failure and acute-on-chronic liver failure extends beyond supportive care and requires individualized strategies for circulatory dysfunction, kidney injury, infection, neurological complications, and rebalanced hemostasis. This review summarizes current concepts in organ support, antimicrobial stewardship, extracorporeal therapies, and liver transplantation, while highlighting the growing role of specialized liver-focused intensive care models in improving outcomes for critically ill patients with liver disease.