King's College Criteria (Acetaminophen Liver Injury)
Original teaching pathways: low arterial pH after resuscitation, or combined coagulopathy, renal impairment, and advanced encephalopathy.
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How it works
King's College Hospital criteria identify a subset of patients with acute liver failure from acetaminophen who have historically had very high mortality without transplantation. Modern care includes N-acetylcysteine, transplant centers, and revised prognostic tools.
Limits
Lactate, phosphate, and dynamic models (e.g., MELD) add information. Pediatric dosing errors, staggered overdoses, and pregnancy require specialist management.
Educational tool only—not for diagnosis or treatment decisions.