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Hepatic hemodialysis units designed for the partial external support of liver function by removing large amounts of water-soluble and albumin-bound substances. Typically, blood is removed via an extracorporeal circuit, passed through a dialyzer and membrane (e.g., polysulphone) that filters out water-soluble toxic substances (e.g., ammonia, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, fatty acids) and albumin-bound toxins, and returned to the patient. Hepatic hemodialysis machines are available to perform continuous hemodialysis or as intermittent machines used used for short periods of time. These units are intended for the treatment of chronic and/or acute liver disease and dysfunction after liver transplantation; the devices usually provide temporary liver function support while the patient waits for recovery or as a bridge to transplantation.
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