Woman Swallows Raw Fish Gallbladder for Headache, Suffers Acute Liver Failure

A Chinese woman was rushed to intensive care in the hospital after she swallowed a raw fish gallbladder, believing it would cure her persistent headache. However, it led to acute liver failure. According

to a report published in the South China Morning Post, a 50-year-old man from Jiangsu province, named Liu, followed a traditional belief that consuming a raw fish gallbladder clears heat, detoxifies the body, and relieves migraines. And so, she bought a grass carp from a local market, removed the fish’s gallbladder, and swallowed it raw, expecting relief from the headache that had been troubling her for a long time. However, within just two hours, Liu began experiencing severe vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain. Alarmed by her rapidly deteriorating condition, her family rushed Liu to the hospital.

Diagnosed with acute liver failure

At the hospital, Liu was diagnosed with fish gallbladder poisoning and acute hepatic failure. Given the seriousness of her condition, she was quickly transferred to the intensive care unit at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University. Immediately, the doctors initiated emergency treatment, which included plasma exchange therapy and continuous renal replacement therapy to support failing organs. According to reports, her condition improved significantly almost a week later, and she was subsequently discharged from the hospital.

What is fish gallbladder poisoning?

Doctors say fish gallbladder poisoning is primarily caused by toxins like histamine, hydrocyanic acid, and cyprinol sulfate, which cause severe multiorgan dysfunction, particularly acute kidney injury. Early recognition, prompt hemodialysis, and comprehensive supportive treatment are essential for a favourable prognosis. Maintaining clinical vigilance and providing public health education on the dangers of consuming fish gallbladders are crucial for preventing similar incidents.

What is acute liver failure?

Acute liver failure is a rare but life-threatening condition. It causes severe injury and massive necrosis of hepatocytes, resulting in severe liver dysfunction that can lead to multi-organ failure and death. It can occur in patients without preexisting liver disease and cause rapid deterioration of liver function within days. Doctors say those with the condition are almost always managed in an intensive care unit and, in some cases, need a liver transplantation to prevent death. Therefore, all physicians need to recognize the early signs of ALF and employ appropriate lifesaving interventions.

What are the stages of liver failure?

Most doctors define acute liver failure as the end stage of chronic liver disease, which usually progresses through several stages. However, it is also important to remember that these stages aren’t distinct from each other. They are:

• Hepatitis
• Fibrosis
• Cirrhosis
• Liver failure

Signs and symptoms of liver failure

A few different signs and symptoms of liver failure, based on how advanced it is and which complications have begun to occur, include:

• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue and general malaise
• Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
• Jaundice
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Pruritis
• Dark-colored pee and light coloured poop
• Easy bleeding and bruising
• Visible blood vessels that look like spiders
• Small, yellow bumps of fat deposits on your skin or eyelids
• Digestive difficulties, especially with fats
• Weight loss and muscle loss
• Musty-smelling breath
• Motor dysfunction like twitching, tremors, and lapses in muscle control
• Low urine output
• Breathlessness