Hepatology and Friends Flashcards
What is the definition of acute liver failure?
Decline in hepatic function where the liver loses the ability to repair or regenerate, characterised by jaundice, coagulopathy, and hepatic encephalopathy
What is the aetiology of acute liver failure?
Paracetamol overdose, alcohol, medications, infections, neoplasms, metabolic conditions, vascular conditions, autoimmune hepatitis
What is the clinical presentation of acute liver failure?
Jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy (confusion, altered mental status, asterixis (flapping tremor), and coma), hepatomegaly, ascites
What are the investigations of acute liver failure?
o LFTs: hyperbilirubinemia, elevated liver enzymes
o Prothrombin time: elevated (INR > 1.5)
o FBC: leukocytosis, anaemia, thrombocytopenia
o Liver biopsy: hepatocellular necrosis
What is the treatment of acute liver failure?
Treat underlying cause, IV mannitol (if raised ICP), lactulose (increases ammonia uptake in encephalopathy), liver transplantation
What is the definition of cholelithiasis?
Formation of gallstones in the gallbladder
What is the aetiology of cholelithiasis?
Bile supersaturated with cholesterol, gallbladder hypomotility
What is the clinical presentation of cholelithiasis?
Biliary colic (Right upper quadrant pain, which is worse after fatty meals, and may radiate to the epigastrium and back)
What are the investigations of cholelithiasis?
o Serum LFTs: elevated alkaline phosphatase, elevated bilirubin
o Abdominal ultrasound: stones in the gallbladder or bile duct with or without bile duct dilation
What is the treatment of cholelithiasis?
Opioid analgesia, IV fluids and nil by mouth, lithotripsy (fragment stones), laparoscopic cholecystectomy
What is the definition of acute cholecystitis?
Acute inflammation of the gallbladder
What is the aetiology of acute cholecystitis?
Cystic duct obstruction, bile inspissation, bile stasis
What is the clinical presentation of acute cholecystitis?
Right upper quadrant pain, fever, Murphy’s sign (tenderness which is worse on inspiration)
What are the investigations of acute cholecystitis?
o FBC: elevated WCC
o CRP: elevated
o Serum LFTs: elevated alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin
o Abdominal ultrasound: gallstones, pericholecystic fluid, distended gallbladder, thickened gallbladder wall
What is the treatment of acute cholecystitis?
Opioid analgesia, IV fluids and nil by mouth, prophylactic antibiotics, laparoscopic cholecystectomy
What is the definition of ascending cholangitis?
Infection of the biliary tree
What is the pathophysiology of ascending cholangitis?
Obstruction of the common bile duct results in bacterial seeding of the biliary tree
What is the clinical presentation of ascending cholangitis?
Right upper quadrant pain, fever, jaundice (dark urine, pale stools, pruritus), altered mental state, hypotension
What are the investigations of ascending cholangitis?
o FBC: elevated WCC
o CRP: elevated
o Serum LFTs: elevated alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin
o Abdominal ultrasound: dilated bile duct, common bile duct stones
o Magnetic resonance cholangiography: mass impinging on biliary tree, stricture, and/or choledocholithiasis
What is the treatment of ascending cholangitis?
IV antibiotics, fluids, opioid analgesia, drainage of the biliary system with ERCP, stenting, laparoscopic cholecystectomy
What is the definition of primary biliary cholangitis?
Progressive bile duct damage and eventual loss
What is the pathophysiology of primary biliary cholangitis?
Autoimmune destruction of biliary epithelial cells lining the small intra-hepatic bile ducts
What is the clinical presentation of primary biliary cholangitis?
Asymptomatic, hepatomegaly, pruritus, fatigue
What are the investigations of primary biliary cholangitis?
o ESR: elevated
o Serum LFTs: elevated alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin
o Anti-mitochondrial antibody immunofluorescence: present
o Liver biopsy: non suppurative cholangitis of interlobular and septal bile ducts, granulomatous lymphocytic infiltration of portal triad