Blood tests are done to determine how
well your liver works. A prothrombin time test measures how long it takes your blood to
clot. With acute liver failure, blood doesn't clot as quickly as it should.
Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound exam to look at your liver. Such
testing may show liver damage and help your doctor determine the cause of your
liver problems. Your doctor may also recommend abdominal computerized
tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at your
liver and blood vessels. These tests can look for certain causes of acute liver
failure, such as Budd-Chiari syndrome or tumors. They may be used if your
doctor suspects a problem and ultrasound testing is negative. Your doctor may
recommend removing a small piece of liver tissue (liver biopsy). Doing so may
help your doctor understand why your liver is failing. Since people with acute
liver failure are at risk of bleeding during biopsy, the doctor may perform a
transjugular liver biopsy. The doctor makes a tiny incision on the right side
of your neck, and then passes a thin tube (catheter) into a neck vein, through
your heart and into a vein exiting your liver. Your doctor then inserts a
needle through the catheter and retrieves a sample of liver tissue.
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