A team of doctors from Fortis Greater Noida saved a 29-year-old patient suffering from hyperacute liver failure by treating him through plasma therapy. Usually, a liver transplant is needed in such patients.

However, the doctors from the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Sciences at the hospital preferred to give plasma therapy to save the patient who had came to the hospital with complaints of fever and jaundice and even failed to communicate properly due to swelling in his brain (cerebral edema).

“He suffered from hepatitis A and required immediate ICU care,” said Dr. Apurv Pande, Consultant, Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary sciences, Fortis Greater Noida. This is a rare, reported condition that happens in only 1% of cases where the patients slip into jaundice and develop other complications such as swelling in the brain,” he added.

In most cases, the patient with timely medical attention recovers in a few days. Since the patient was very young and transplant would have required time to arrange a donor, we decided to give the patient plasmapheresis at the intensive care unit for cerebral Edema (brain swelling) and liver support.

“Plasmapheresis is a procedure where the blood is removed from the patient and the cellular components RBC, WBC, and platelets are separated from the plasma in the machine. The plasma is discarded, and fresh plasma and albumin are mixed along with the cellular components and returned to the body”, said the doctors. Pramit Mishra, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Greater Noida, said, "In cases of hyperacute liver failure, patients can lose their lives if the right treatment is not provided. Other than the liver transplant, plasmapheresis has proved beneficial in saving lives.”