Jaundice and Liver Failure Flashcards
4 liver issues
- viral liver diseases (hepatitis)
- jaundice
- cirrhosis
- liver failure
when can the liver be palpable on the back
Liver pushed down the way when breathe in
Large liver (unhealthy) can palpate even when not breathing in
how many lobes does the liver have
3
location of the liver
under the ribs, adjacent to the lung but separated from the lung by the diaphragm
how does the liver cope with varying degrees of function
Lobes
- Can function individually – can transplant one lobe
Liver regenerates and expand to cope with function
- Can cope with some damage
function of gallbladder
bag which collects bile from the liver, at the back
what ducts join together to make ampulla of Vater entering the jejunum?
common bile duct joins the pancreatic duct
what is jaundice
accumulation of bilirubin in the skin
signs of jaundice
yellow-orange pigmentation
itch (bothers patient)
icteric
term used to describe jaundice patient
what is bilirubin
normal metabolic product of haem
- Recycle material inside the haem, exerted through kidneys
Bilirubin level in blood should be relatively low
- most recycled or lost
what can jaundice be a result of?
liver failure
scleral effects of jaundice
yellow-orange white of eye
what does the liver do to bilirubin
conjugates bilirubin so it can be excreted from the body
Not conjugated then not water soluble so cannot be excreted by urine
- Some reabsorbed into blood stream and kidney to be excreted
stool and urine colour if liver functioning well
normal/dark
stool and urine colour if liver not functioning well
pale/unpigmented as lack of bilirubin excretion
what is in excess when a patient has jaundice
bilirubin in the circulation
3 ways to define jaundice
pre-hepatic
hepatic
post-hepatic
pre-hepatic jaundice due to
increased haem load
- autoimmune, spleen, abnormal RBCs
hepatic jaundice due to
liver cell failure
- cirrhosis, hepatitis
post-hepatic jaundice due to
biliary, gall bladder and pancreatic disease
unconjugated bilirubin found
in blood
conjugated bilirubin found
in bile (liver passed to small intestine or kidney)
what is pre hepatic jaundice factors due to
due to factors before liver metabolism