Reversible Subacute Liver Failure Following Revisional Malabsorptive Bariatric Surgery: A Case Report
Sofia Prada1,2, Rita Penaforte2, Beatriz Sá Pereira2
1Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, PRT.
Cureus
|August 15, 2026
Summary
Severe liver failure after bariatric surgery can be caused by persistent malabsorption. Reversing the malabsorptive anatomy can restore liver function and prevent irreversible damage in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology
- Bariatric Surgery
Background:
- Bariatric surgery effectively treats obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
- While generally improving liver health, rare cases of severe hepatic decompensation can occur after malabsorptive bariatric procedures.
- Prompt identification of reversible causes of liver failure is critical to prevent progression to irreversible injury or transplantation.