12. Management of Chronic Liver Disease Flashcards
What are the functions of the liver?
- production of clotting factors, albumin, bile
- storage of energy
- metabolism of cholesterol
- detoxification/ filtration
Cirrhosis is characterized by replacement of ______________ with ____________.
normal liver tissue
abnormal nodules and fibrosis
What are some complications of cirrhosis?
- splenic congestion
- portal hypertension
- fluid accumulation (ascites)
- increased bilirubin
How is liver damage assessed?
- aminotransaminases (ALT, AST)
How is liver function assessed?
- albumin level
- coagulation factors
What lab levels are elevated in liver cirrhosis?
- bilirubin
- Alkaline phosphates and GGT
- ammonia
- PT/INR
What lab levels are decreased in liver cirrhosis?
- sodium and potassium
- platelets
What does the Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A indicate?
5-6 points: least severe disease
What does the Child-Turcotte-Pugh class B indicate?
7-9 points: moderate to severe disease
What does the Child-Turcotte-Pugh class C indicate?
10-15 points: most severe disease
What are signs of high bilirubin?
pruritus
jaundice
What are signs of decreased clotting factors?
bleeding and bruising
What are signs of low estrogen degradation?
- palmar erythema
- spider angiomata
- gynecomastia
What are signs of low albumin?
edema, ascites, pleural effusion, respiratory difficultay
What are signs of high ammonia?
confusion asterixis ataxia dysarthria hypoactive reflexes
What are some complications of cirrhosis?
- Portal HTN and varices
- hepatic encephalopathy
- ascites
- spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- hepatorenal syndrome
- coagulopathy
Why does cirrhosis cause portal hypertension and what can result?
- changes in liver tissue causes resistance to blood flow
- liver begins to develop alternate blood flow routes = varices
- bleeding can occur in these high pressure vessels
What are the clinical presentations of portal HTN and varices?
- usually asymptomatic until bleeding occurs
- varices are detected via esophagogastroduodenoscopy
What is the treatment goal for portal HTN and varices?
- treatment is aimed at preventing variceal bleeding
- primary prophylaxis
- treatment of acute variceal hemorrhage
- secondary prophylaxis
What is primary prophylaxis for portal HTN and varices?
- non-selective Beta-blockers
propranolol 10 mg or nadolol 20mg - recent data with Carvedilol
- nitrates no longer recommended
What are strategies to manage acute variceal hemorrhage?
- fluid resuscitation
- correct coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia
- control bleeding
- prophylactic antibiotics
How can bleeding be controlled mechanically in acute variceal hemorrhage?
- EBL: endoscopic band ligation
- EIS: endoscopic injection sclerotherapy
- TIPS procedure
- Blakemore tube/tamponade
How can bleeding be controlled pharmacologically in acute variceal hemorrhage?
- octreotide* 50-100 mcg IV bolus + 25-50 mcg/hr
- vasopressin
Only patients with increased risk factors should receive prophylactic antibiotics in acute variceal bleeding. (T/F)
False: all patients with acute variceal bleeds