Real-time assessment of hepatic function is related to clinical outcome in critically ill patients after polytrauma

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the outcome MODS/MOF in critically ill patients with regard to early hepatic dysfunction. Methods: Thirty adult polytrauma patients admitted to the ICU, with ISS ≥ 16 were prospectively investigated. Real-time liver function was assessed using the MEGX test and arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) 12–24 h after admittance to ICU, and on days 3, 5, 8, 12. Results: Six patients (19%) died between days 4 and 29. Non-survivors were older (64.2 vs. 31.5 years), had a significantly higher ISS (40.5 vs. 30; p = 0.002) and MODS score (9.5 vs. 5; p = 0.001) on admittance to the ICU than survivors. On day 3 MEGX values (31 vs. 71.3 μg/L; p = 0.001) and the AKBRs (0.6 vs. 1.3; p = 0.001) were significantly lower in non-survivors than in survivors whereas IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the former group (519 vs. 61 μg/L; p = 0.05). Conclusions: The MEGX test and AKBR are sensitive early indicators of hepatic dysfunction in severely injured polytrauma patients at risk for developing MODS/MOF.