Unit 6 Hepatic Diseases Flashcards
What are the functions of the liver?
CHO (glucose
Lipids
In charge (“bouncer” it detoxes Rx, etc)
Protein (breaks into amino acids, ammonia levels increased if not functioning properly)
Bile (half to 1 liter a day, aids in digestion)
Albumin (helps with oncotic pressure, w/o it you get edema, ascites)
Clotting (liver will have increased INR with liver dysfunction)
Kupffer cells (WBC’s specific to liver, they prevent infection)
If you CLIP it, it will grow BACK!
What are the four liver diseases and what are they?
Cirrhosis - scarring of the liver tissue, hepatocyctes die
Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) - fatty liver from being obese, diabetic
Cholecystitis - Gallstones
Pancreatitis - Inflamed pancreas
The latter 3 can result in Cirrhosis
What is bilirubin from?
RBC breakdown
What are the diagnostic lab testing/results of liver disease?
Liver Biopsy:
- Afterwards lay PT onto right side to prevent liver contents from leaking into body cavity
- Assess PT, if elevated BP after procedure notify MD
Clotting:
-Prolonged bleeding, thrombocytopenia, high INR
Chemistry:
- Low glucose
- High ammonia (should have 0)
- High osmolarity
- High bilirubin
CBC:
-Anemia
Liver function tests (LFT):
-Elevated AST,ALT, (normal is 35-45, over 45 is an issue)
What are imaging tests available to liver diseases?
Upper GI study (requires consent, IV sedation)
Lower GI study (requires consent, IV sedation, enemas to clean before procedure)
CT
MRI
Positron emission tomography (PET)
In liver failure what kind of bilirubin will be elevated?
Elevated indirect bilirubin
After upper imaging studies, what should you test for before eating?
Gag reflex
What causes Cirrhosis?
ETOH consumption
Hepatitis B and C (viral infections)
Repeated bouts of HF
Genetics
NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NAFLD is the umbrella, this is more severe form)
Bile duct disease
Describe Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis.
ETOH directly toxic to liver cells
Alcoholic liver:
- fatty liver
- has tissue changes
- Inflammation
Can be compensated (reversible) or
Uncompensated (irreversible, has scar tissue)
What are the early (compensated) signs and symptoms of Cirrhosis?
- Abdominal pain
- Palmar erythema (red hands)
- Spider vains (vascular spiders)
- Unexplained epistaxis (nosebleeds)
- Splenomegaly
- Firm, enlarged liver
What are the late (uncompensated) signs and symptoms of Cirrhosis? Explain them.
Jaundice (from high bilirubin levels)
Ascites (fluid in the peritoneal cavity, abdomen swelling)
Caput Medusa (crazy medusa abdominal veins)
Gynecomastia (large breast tissue on men, cirrhosis doesn’t allow liver to detoxify estrogen)
Portal hypertension (portal vein becomes narrow, increase BP, causes esophageal varicies, and more!)
Esophageal Varicies (hemorrhoids on esophagus)
What are two ways to assess/test for ascites?
Fluid thrill abdominal exam:
- Takes two ppl
- Palm of hand on abdomen and flick finger
Ascites shifting dullness:
- fluid = dullness on percussion
- fluid shifts when changing positions
What is the management of Ascites?
Medications:
-diuretics; [Lasix] furosemide (20-80mg dose) check K+ and BP before giving
Dietary modifications:
-Sodium restriction
Paracentesis:
-needle into area, pulls out fluid
(hang albumin to restore what was lost)
Procedures to control potral HTN:
- TIPS
- Splenorenal shunt
Describe TIPS.
Trans-Jugular Intra-Hepatic Portal Shunt
Through jugular vein though IVC and stick a stent into portal vein to lower portal hypertension and decrease narrowing and back-up which will prevent esophageal varicies.
Describe Splenorenal shunt.
Diverts fluid spleen into kidney
Sx of splenic vein that’s removed and put onto the left renal vein to decrease the amount of blood flow to the portal vein so there’s less back-up.
What is the collaborative management of Esophageal Varicies?
IV fluids
Blood Products
vasopressin drip (to constrict veins in esophagus
sandostatin (octreotide) drip (anti-diuretic hormone to retain fluids)
Endoscopy with Sclerosing agents of bands
Sengstaken-Blakemore tube (balloon that goes down esophagus to compress veins; last attempt to stop bleeding)
What is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, describe the symptoms, and how is it treated?
Issue from ascites:
- Bacteria from the gut that reaches the ascitic fluid via lymphatics causing inflammation
- Fever, chills, abdominal pain, tenderness
- Fluid from paracentesis will show increased WBC in fluid and culture will show bacterial growth
- Treated with IV antibiotics
Due to the coagulation defects from liver disease, especially cirrhosis, what do you want to assess? What is decreased?
- Decreased absorption of fat soluble vitamins
- Decreased production of clotting factors
- Decreased platelets due to increased activity of spleen
Assess for: easy bruising, bleeding, petechiae