Lecture 2 - ESLD Complications Flashcards
Portal Hypertension due to…
Fibrosis in liver interfering with normal blood flow
What is Portal Hypertension
When portal blood flow is impeded and portal pressure exceeds 12 mmHg
Signs: Ascites & esophageal varices
How are Esophageal Varices caused
inc pressure in gastric fungus and esophagus causing swelling in burst..leading to life-threatening GI bleed
Leading cause of death in pts with cirrhosis
Esophageal Varices Treatment options
Primary Prophylaxis = BB
Treatment of acute vatical hemorrhage
Secondary prophylaxis
Who doesn’t need Prophylaxis of Varices w/ BB?
< 5 mm (w/o red whale marks) & Stage A = only ones who dont need
BB used for EV prophylaxis ?
Propranolol and Nadolol
Therapy is life long, bleeding can stop if abrupt D/x
Recommended dosing for EV primary prophylaxis
Start propranolol 10mg TID or nadolol 20mg QD if patient has large varices
Titrate to achieve reduction of resting HR by 20-25%, Hit 55-60 bpm, or development of SE
EV ligation is alternative to drug treatment
Acute Variceal Bleeding Pharmacotherapy
Octreotide 50 mcg IV bolus followed by continuous infusion 50mcg/h for 3-5 days
More effective and safe compared to vasopressin
Acute Variceal Bleed Band Ligation
- Elastic band is placed around varix
- Strangulation, fibrosis, and obliteration of the varix
- As effective as sclerotherapy with fewer complications
Sclerotherapy
injecting stuff into varices
causing inflammatory response, leading to thrombus formation and bleeding stops in 2-5min
rebreeding occurs in 50%
Antibiotics to prevent SBP Acute EV bleeding
1st line = Moxifloxacin 400mg IV daily X 7 days or Levofloxacin 500mg IV daily for 7 days
- Ceftriaxone IV if allergies or areas w/ high FQ resistance
** All pts who undergo acute GI bleed w/ EV **
Refractory Variceal Bleed
10-20% fail conventional therapy
- Shunt surgery only Class A Child-Pugh score
- TIPS for any Child-Pugh score
When to refer pt for transplantation?
Cild-Pugh > 7 and MELD > 7 if have refractory Variceal bleed
Treatment of Acute bleed
Endoscopy + Octreotide + 7 days Abx
Secondary Prophylaxis treatments
- Frequent endoscopic monitoring
2. Beta-blockers
Ascites Pathogenesis Role of albumin
Low serum albumin = 3rd spacing of fluid further contributing to decreasing intravascular volume