RUQ Pain Flashcards
When protein is digested…
waste product is ammonia
1st function of the liver
Degradation of protein into ammonia and urea
Ammonia is…
carried to the liver , liver turns ammonia into urea , urea is dumped by kidneys as BUN
If you have liver failure can you process ammonia?
No you cannot process the ammonia into urea
What are the urea and ammonia levels in liver failure
Ammonia will rise
Urea will drop (low BUN)
Ammonia crosses blood brain barrier…
Encaphalopathy
What bedside test can you run with LF?
Liver Flap (the hand wont stay up)
Tx for high ammonia
Lactulose - absorb in intestine - disregard
2nd function of the liver
The liver takes protein and processes it into albumin
Albumin carries
thyroid hormones
fatty acids
protein for steroids
Low Albumin fluid?
LEAKS
Edema
Low albumin?
Fluid leaks - edemitous
Hepatic hypertension causes?
Fluid to leak around the liver
Albumin has a half life of?
3 weeks
So if albumin has such a short half life and the pt develops edema etc?
They’ve been at it for awhile
Tx for acitis?
Paracentesis
IV albumin
3rd thing liver does..
Has clotting factors
Tx for clotting factor problems with liver disease
vitamin k
What does the liver do to dead RBCs?
Taken to the liver and it converts the dead RBCs and breaks them down - waste product is bilirubin
How does bilirubin leave?
Leaves the liver after it is produced run down and mix with stool
What causes bilirubin stool to be brown?
When the bilirubin waste mixes with the stool the bacteria of the intestine turns it brown
What color is the stool without bilirubin (liver failure)
Clay or Grey
Where does bilirubin first show up in liver failure?
The urine (cola color) - If you shake urine sample it would get foamy/frothy at the top
After bili shows up in urine where else will it show?
Elastic Tissue - Sclera
Last place for bili to show up
Jaundice of the skin
2nd function of liver
Takes protein and processes it into albumin
Albumin functions..
Acid base balances
Carries calcium, hormones, enzymes around the body
Keeps fluid in your bloodstream (Keeps fluid in the vasculature)
Low Albumin fluid?
LEAKS
Edemous
