The Liver Flashcards
Portal Hypertension
- Abnormally high BP in the portal venous system
- Normal pressure is 3mm Hg
- Portal HTN is an increase to at least 10 mm Hg.
Liver Disease
-Life Threatening Complications
- Portal Hypertension
- Ascites
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Jaundice
- Hepato-renal Syndrome
Portal Hypertension
-Caused by?
- Caused by disorders that obstruct or impede blood flow through any component of the portal venous system or vena cava
Portal Hypertension
-Intra-hepatic Causes
- Results from vascular remodeling w/ shunts, thrombosis, inflammation, or fibrosis of the sinusoids
Portal Hypertension
-Intra-Hepatic Examples
Occurs in:
- CIRRHOSIS**
- Viral hepatitis
- Schistosomiasis (parasitic infection)
Portal Hypertension
-Post-Hepatic Causes
- Occur from hepatic vein THROMBOSIS or cardiac disorders that impair the pumping ability of the RIGHT HEART
- Right Sided HF
- Cardiomyopathy
- Constrictive pericarditis
Portal Hypertension
-Most Common Cause
- Fibrosis & Obstruction caused by cirrhosis of the liver
Long-Term effects of Portal Hypertension
- Varices
- Splenomegaly
- Ascites
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Hepatopulmonary syndrome
Portal Hypertension
-Pre-hepatic Causes
- Thrombosis before circulation reaches the liver
Varices
- Distended, tortuous, collateral veins
2. Rupture of varices can cause life-threatening hemorrhage
Splenomegaly
- Enlargement of the spleen caused by increased pressure in the splenic vein, which branches from the portal vein.
Congestive Splenomegaly
-Most Common Symptom
- Thrombocytopenia is the most common symptom of congestive splenomegaly
Caput Medusae
- Prominent superficial abdominal veins seen on a patient w/ cirrhosis and portal hypertension
Hepatopulmonary Syndrome
- Vasodilation, intrapulmonary shunting & hypoxia
Portopulmonary Hypertension
- Pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling
Liver Dx and Portal HTN
-Complications
- Hepatopulmonary syndrome
- Portopulmonary HTN
- Both are complications of liver dx and portal HTN
Portal Hypertension
-Most common Manifestation
- Vomiting of blood (hematemesis) from bleeding esophageal varices is the most common clinical manifestation of portal HTN
Esophageal Varices
-What Happens when they Rupture?
- Causes hemorrhage
- Voluminous vomiting of dark-colored blood
- Usually painless
- Rupture is caused by combination of erosion by gastric acid and elevated venous pressure
Portal Hypertension
-Diagnoses
- Portal HTN is often dx at the time of variceal bleeding
- Dx is confirmed by endoscopy and evaluation of portal venous pressure
- Pt usually has hx of jaundice, hepatitis, or alcoholism
Ascites
- Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity
2. Traps body fluid in a ‘third space’
Third Spacing
- Accumulation of body fluid in a space where it does not normally collect
Ascites
-Most Common Cause?
- Cirrhosis is the most common cause of ascites
- Also Caused by:
- HF
- Constrictive pericarditis
- Abdominal malignancies
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Malnutrition
Ascites
-Factors that contribute to development
- Decreased synthesis of albumin by the liver & fluid retention
- Portal HTN
- Hydrostatic pressure exceeding capillary osmotic pressure
Ascites
-Clinical Manifestations
- Weight gain
- Abdominal distention / increased abdominal girth
- Dyspnea by decreasing lung capacity
- RR increases and individual assumes semi-fowler position
Ascites
-Bacterial Peritonitis
- 10% of individuals with ascites develop bacterial peritonitis
- Causes:
- Fever & Chills
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased bowel sounds & cloudy ascitic fluid
Hepatic Encephalopathy
- Complex neurologic syndrome characterized by impaired cerebral function, flapping tremor (asterixis), and electroencephalogram (EEG) changes.
Hepatic Encephalopathy
-Development of the syndrome?
- Hepatic encephalopathy develops rapidly during acute fulminant hepatitis
- Develops slowly during the course of chronic liver disease and the development of portal HTN
Hepatic Encephalopathy
-Pathophysiology
- Collateral vessels develop that shunt blood around liver to the systemic circulation
- Absorbed toxins from the GI tract are permitted to accumulate and circulate freely to the brain
- Accumulated toxins alter cerebral energy metabolism, interfere w/ neurotransmission, and cause edema
Hepatic Encephalopathy
-Most Hazardous Substances??
- End products of intestinal protein digestion, particularly AMMONIA, which cannot be converted to urea by the diseased liver.
Factors that Precipitate Hepatic Encephalopathy
- Infection
- Hemorrhage
- Electrolyte imbalance (including zine deficiency)
- Use of sedatives and analgesics
Hepatic Encephalopathy
-Initial Manifestations
- Subtle changes in personality
- Memory loss
- Irritability & lethargy
- Sleep disturbances
Hepatic Encephalopathy
-Late Manifestations
- Confusion
- Flapping tremor of the hands (asterixis)
- Stupor
- Convulsions
- Coma & Death from Liver failure
Hepatic Encephalopathy
-1st step in Treatment
- Correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalance
2. Withdrawal of depressant drugs metabolized by the liver