Fetor hepaticus

Fetor hepaticus or foetor hepaticus (see spelling differences

American and British English spelling differences

American and British English spelling differences are one aspect of American and British English differences.- Historical origins :In the early 18th century, English spelling was not standardized. Differences became noticeable after the publishing of influential dictionaries...

), also known as breath of the dead, is a condition seen in portal hypertension

Portal hypertension

In medicine, portal hypertension is hypertension in the portal vein and its tributaries.It is often defined as a portal pressure gradient of 5 mm Hg or greater.-Causes:Many conditions can result in portal hypertension...

 where portosystemic shunting allows mercaptans to pass directly into the lung

Lung

The lung or pulmonary system is the essential respiration organ in air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located in the chest on either side of the heart...

s. It is a late sign in liver failure

Liver failure

Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs of liver disease , and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage . The complications are hepatic encephalopathy and impaired protein synthesis...

. Other possible causes are the presence of ammonia

Ammonia

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH₃. It is normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to foodstuffs and fertilizers...

 and ketones in the breath. The breath has a sweet, faecal smell

Odor

An odor or odour is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also called smells, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors...

 to it.

The compound dimethyl sulfide

Dimethyl sulfide

Dimethyl sulfide or methylthiomethane is an organosulfur compound with the formula ₂S. Dimethyl sulfide is a water-insoluble flammable liquid that boils at and has a characteristic disagreeable odor. It is a component of the smell produced from cooking of certain vegetables, notably...

has been associated with it, raising the possibility of an objective noninvasive measure of liver failure.