K72: Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified
Hepatic failure, often referred to as liver failure, is a group of conditions that occur when an individual's liver becomes severely damaged and eventually stops functioning. This can be due to various causes such as viral infections (for example, hepatitis), prolonged alcohol misuse, or certain medications. Liver failure can be an acute (sudden onset) condition or it can develop slowly over months to years, which is known as chronic liver failure. Common symptoms across these conditions generally include jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), easy bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue, and loss of appetite among others. As the liver is an essential organ for different bodily functions such as detoxification, digestion, and blood clotting, the progression of liver failure can lead to severe complications, even life-threatening, involving multiple systems in the body.
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