Chapter 13, part 2 Flashcards
What may cause amebic liver abscesses?
Entamoeba histolytica
Who is at highest risk for amebic liver abscesses?
Alcoholic pts
Homosexuals
Tx of amebic liver abscess
Medical management
10-14 day course of metronidazole
No role for surgical management
Tx of hydatid liver dz
Surgical resection of the hydatid cyst constitutes definitive therapy
In hydatid liver dz, what may result in anaphylactic shock?
Cyst rupture
Cirrhosis of the liver
Characterized by the replacement of nl functioning hepatocytes with fibrous connective tissue and regenerative hepatic nodules
Common causes of cirrhosis
Chronic HBV or HCV infection Exposure to hepatotoxins such as alcohol A1-antitrypsin deficiency Hemochromatosis Wilson's dz
How are surgeons asked to manage cirrhosis?
Liver transplantation, the only curative and definitive therapy for end-stage cirrhosis
Manage complications of portal HTN
Any other surgical diseases that affect the rest of the population
Presentation of cirrhosis
Varies May be relatively well compensated or asymptomatic Encephalopathy Jaundice Coagulopathy Complications of portal HTN: -Gastroesophageal varices -Ascites
What is the best option in pts with isolated gastric variceal bleeding secondary to splenic vein thrombosis?
Splenectomy
What is the best option in pts with gastric varices secondary to portal HTN?
Insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
Contraindications to TIPS procedure
Right-sided heart failure with increased central venous pressure Severe hepatic failure Portal vein thrombosis Severe hepatic encephalopathy Active local or systemic infection
Tx of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding
Endoscopic band ligation
For gastroesophageal variceal bleeding, what should be done if endoscopic band ligation fails?
TIPS procedure
What may be required with massive gastroesophageal variceal bleeding?
Control with a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube prior to the initiation of more definitive therapy
When TIPS fails to stop gastroesophageal variceal bleeding or is unavailable, what may be required?
Surgical portosystemic shunts
Which surgical portosystemic shunt is the shunt of choice for gastroesophageal variceal bleeding?
Portacaval shunt
What is an alternative to shunt surgery for gastroesophageal variceal bleeding?
Esophageal devascularization and transection procedures
How can refractory ascites be treated?
Surgical placement of a LeVeen shunt
Complications of a LeVeen shunt
Infection of the shunt
Coagulopathy secondary to systemic fibrinolysis
When is a LaVeen shunt not recommended?
Cirrhotic pts with ascites
What are the two measures of severity of liver dz in the cirrhotic pt?
Child MELD (Model for End-stage Liver Dz) score
In terms of Child’s classification or MELD score, what is associated with the worst perioperative survival?
An emergent operation in a pt with a Child’s C classification or a MELD score >25
When elective surgery is performed in a cirrhotic pt, what needs to be done?
A preoperative evaluation for liver transplantation should be considered.
What are the most common benign solid tumors of the liver?
Hemangiomas
Presentation of hemangiomas
Abdominal pain or discomfort only after the hemangioma has grown to over 10 cm
Tx of hemangiomas
The great majority of hemangiomas should be observed and not resected unless there are significant sx
When surgical intervention is warranted, the hemangioma can be enucleated