Patients with decompensated cirrhosis or acute onchronic liver failure increasingly require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and are treated according to general intensive care principles, which may or may not be suitable for critically ill cirrhotic patients.

Indeed, there are insufficient evidence-based data on the appropriate management of these patients in the ICU, particularly related to the adjustment and customizing of ICU measures such as hemodynamic and organ support for critically ill patients with cirrhosis. Furthermore, there is also insufficient evidence to demonstrate whether we can use the same recommendations for the treatment of complications of cirrhosis in the ICU, which were derived from studies carried out outside of the intensive care environment.

The aim of this Special Issue is to solicit original research articles highlighting the controversies in the management of critically ill patients with cirrhosis and acute liver failure. Submissions focussing on critical care issues in cirrhosis and other contributions in the field are particularly encouraged. Review articles discussing the state of the art are also welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Hemodynamic support in critically ill patients with cirrhosis
• Critical care management of patients with cirrhosis
• Infections in cirrhosis
• Sepsis and septic shock in patients with liver disease
• Chronic acute liver failure
• Acute liver failure
• Acute kidney injury and hepatorenal syndrome
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Prognostic scores and futility rules
• Liver transplantation in critically ill patients with cirrhosis
• Artificial and bioartificial liver support systems