Liver Failure Flashcards
What is the role of the liver?
- Metabolism CHO, protein, Fats
- Metabolises steroid hormones & most drugs
- Synthesis essential blood protein (Albumin & clotting factors)
- Convert ammonia to urea
- Detoxifies alcohol
- Produce bile
- Stores minerals & fats
- Supplies glycogen
What are the 3 manifestations of Liver Failure?
- Hepatocellular failure
- Jaundice
- Portal hypertension
Manifestation of Hepatocellular Failure
- Impaired protein metabolism= decreased albumin & clotting factors
- Disrupted glucose metabolism & storage
- Decreased bile production
- Impaired metabolism of steroid hormones
What is Jaundice?
- Is the result of disrupted metabolism & excretion of bilirubin
- Yellow stain of the skin
- First seen in sclera of the eyes then in skin
What are the 3 types of Jaundice?
- Haemolytic Jaundice
- Hepatic Jaundice
- Obstructive Jaundice
What is Haemolytic Jaundice?
- Is having more bilirubin in the circulation than the liver can process
- Result of destruction of the RBC
What is Hepatic Jaundice?
- Impaired liver cell function
2. Disrupts the conversion & secretion of bilirubin
What is the Obstructive Jaundice?
- Obstruction of bile flow in biliary system
- Gall bladder & bile ducts
- Pink/clay like stool is a trademark, due to lack of bile pigment
What is portal hypertension?
- High BP within the liver
- Result from inadequate blood flow through the liver
- Venous system drains GIT, spleen & abdomen which develops varicose vein.
What is the result of portal hypertension?
- Dilation of veins in GIT & abdomen
- Splenomegaly
- Ascites
- Portal system encephalopathy
- Hepatorenal syndrome
Within portal hypertension what happens when there is a dilation of veins of GIT and abdominal wall?
- Congestion suppresses appetite
- Formation of varicose veins: Oesophagus, stomach & rectum: Hemorrhoid’s
- Collateral veins show on the abdomen wall around the umbilicus
Within portal hypertension what happens when there is ascites?
- Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity
- Result of increased pressure in the abdomen which forces the fluid out into the peritoneal cavity
- Appear pregnant
- Low albumin
Within portal hypertension what happens when there is portal system encephalopathy?
- Altered state of consciousness & MS (seizures & strokes)
- Accumulation of waste products in the blood (ammonia)
- Ammonia (toxic fatty acid) alters neurotransmitters and plasma to amino acid ratio
- Late sign of liver failure: increased ICP & decrease CPP results in cells becoming hypoxic.
Within portal hypertension what happens when there is hepatorenal syndrome?
- Renal failure due to disrupted blood flow as a result of liver failure.
What is hepatitis?
- Inflammation of the liver
- Predominately exposed to the virus
- Caused by: Alcohol, drugs, toxins, pathogens
- Chronic hepatitis can lead to liver cancer
What is the simple pathophysiology of hepatitis?
- Virus replicates in the liver
- Inflammation processes damages the hepatic cells, disrupts liver function
- Bile flow in the biliary system is impaired: Jaundice
- Metabolism of nutrition, drugs, alcohol, toxins and bile excretion is disrupted
What are the 4 phases of viral hepatitis?
- Incubation phase
- Prodromal phase
- Icteric Phase
- Convalescents phase
What is the incubation phase?
- Post- exposure with no symptoms