GI Medicine - Liver Disease Flashcards
what is failure of liver detoxification due to?
hepatic dysfunction and/or abnormal blood supply (PSS)
what does build up of ammonia lead to?
hyperammonaemia
hepatic encephalopathy
what is caused by hepatic dysfunction and/or abnormal blood supply (PSS)?
failure of conversion of ammonia to urea
failure of drug detoxification
what is a key effect of the failure of drug detoxification in the liver?
anaesthetic agents have a prolonged effect
what is the effect of encephalopathic toxins?
forebrain dysfunction
when is hepatic encephalopathy made worse?
following high protein meal
GI haemorhage
why is hepatic encepalopathy worse after a high protein meal?
increased ammonia produced due to bacterial fermentation and enterocyte glutamine metabolism
what are the precipitating events for hepatic encepalopathy?
feeding high protein meal
vomiting diarrhoea
diuretics (lead to dehydration)
what laboratory tests are used to diagnose liver disease?
liver enzymes (may be primary or reactive) bilirubin bile acids blood glucose blood clotting parameters
what is bilirubin a marker of?
jaundice
what are bile acids a measure of?
liver function
what diagnostic tests are used in liver disease?
laboratory tests
imaging
liver cytology (FNA)/biopsy
what are the most common causes of acute liver disease?
toxins or infections
what are the most common toxins which cause liver disease?
xylitol
mushrooms
blue green algae
aflatoxins
what are the most common drugs which cause acute liver disease?
phenobarbitone paracetamol azathioprine doxycycline lomustine (CCNU)
what are the most common bacteria which cause acute liver disease?
leptospirosis
ascending biliary infection
what are the most common viruses which cause acute liver disease?
canine adenovirus
what happens during ascending biliary infection?
bacteria from the gut move into bile duct and cause infection
what are the main nursing considerations associated with acute liver disease?
management of hepatic encephalopathy anti-emetics for nausea manage hypoglycaemia consider implications for venepuncture due to coagulopathy risk specific therapies barrier nursing?
how is hepatic encephalopathy managed in acute liver failure?
lactulose
seizure management if needed
maintain and monitor hydration and electrolytes (esp. K+)
how may lactulose be administered?
oral
retention enema
how does retention enema work?
foley catheter used to introduce and hold Lactulose in the colon
what must be remembered about drug dosing in patients with acute liver disease?
dose will need to be reduced due to reduced liver function
how can hypoglycaemia be managed?
glucose infusion
feed complex carbohydrates little and often
what are the specific therapies for acute liver disease?
antioxidants
antibiotics
describe nutritional management of acute liver disease
restricted animal protein diet
copper restricted diet
antioxidant supplementation
what si the best diet for acute liver disease?
replete protein, plant or soy based (e.g. Purina HA)
why is reduced or alternative to animal protein diet needed in liver disease patients?
to reduce ammonia
what diet can be used if plant (soy) based diets cannot be used?
hepatic (or less ideally renal) prescription diets are appropriate
cottage cheese added to give more, safe protein
what are the overarching causes of inflammatory liver disease?
sterile
infectious
what are the sterile causes of inflammatory liver disease?
chronic hepatitis (dogs) lymphocytic cholangitis (cats)
what causes chronic hepatitis?
idiopathic
copper
why does copper cause inflammatory liver disease?
toxic to hepatocytes