Week 5 Flashcards
What is hepatic disorder: ascites?
An abnormal/pathological accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity as a result of some disease process. Volume of > 1.5 liters can be detected by physical exam
What defines the progression of ascites?
The amount of accumulation of fluid
What are the presentations of grade 1 ascites?
Small accumulation, no symptoms, diagnosed by abdominal US (req. 100 mL fluid)
What are the presentations of grade 2 ascites?
At least 1000 mL fluid, ↑ abdominal girth, weight gain
What are the presentations of grade 3 ascites?
- Diffuse abdominal pressure,
- Dyspnea (if diaphragm elevated by fluid)
- Pain uncommon
- Difficulty breathing
What is the extreme progression of ascites?
Infectious (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis): new abdominal discomfort and fever. The fluid has now become infected by bacteria
What are the hepatic causes of ascites?
• Portal hypertension (>90% of cases), usually due to
cirrhosis
• Chronic hepatitis
• Severe alcoholic hepatitis w/o cirrhosis
• Hepatic vein obstruction (Budd-Chiari syndrome)
In what other conditions is ascites present?
- Heart failure
- Abdominal malignancies
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Infection
- Malnutrition
The pathogenesis of ascites is not well known. However the hybrid theory prevails in what we know about, what does this theory entail?
Continuous injury to liver from combined exogenous factors (i.e., chronic alcohol or viral injury) or in the setting of an appropriate genetic disposition, which then increases the resistance to blood flow through the liver & can lead to increased pressure on the portal vein, and causes fluid to leak from the venous system, into the free abdominal cavity.
• Continued micro-processes of inflammation, necrosis, and collagen deposition/regeneration
• Above three may combine to transform liver from a low-resistance to high-resistance system & can lead to increased pressure on the portal vein (i.e., portal hypertension)
What is the process in the setting of portal HTN?
In the setting of portal HTN, additional accumulation of vasodilatory substances, accumulate along with the increased fluid retention from the angiotensin aldosterone system, causing a further leak to occur
What are some medical history and clinical exam findings a patient with ascites will present with?
- Signs: shifting dullness w/abdominal percussion & fluid wave across the abdomen
- Volumes < 1500 mL may not cause physical signs
- Massive: causes tautness of abdominal wall & flattening of umbilicus
- May have peripheral edema
When diagnosing ascites, a physician may perform a diagnostic paracentesis. What does this entail?
Diagnostic tap analyzing cell count, total protein, albumin, cytology & cultures within the fluid in the stomach, done with a needle.
In what type of patient is it mandatory to perform a diagnostic paracentesis?
This is mandatory in cases of new ascites or in cases of individual with a change in clinical status that includes fever, abdominal pain, and new onset of or worsening hepatic encepalopathy, or any sign or symptom of infection
Depending on the presentation and physical appearance of a patient with ascites, what are the lab exams that can be ordered?
Laboratory exams including full liver screen
• Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cholesterol, amylase, total protein, and triglycerides
What type of imaging is used in the case of ascites and why?
US or CT. This is used in cases of new onset ascites and to rule out portal vein thrombosis or hepatocellular carcinoma
What will prompt the screen for an infection in the presence of ascites?
Pain & fever present
Why may the peritoneal fluid found in the presence of ascites be infected?
The interface between the bowel, the intestinal micro-flora, and the acidic fluid is dynamic, with a constant translation of bacteria across the bowel wall
What does the medical treatment of ascites depend on?
The determined etiology of the disease
What are the medical treatments of ascites that was caused by cirrhosis?
- Treatment of underlying liver disease initiated ASAP
- Cessation of medications/alcohol that worsen ascites (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, NSAIDS, aminoglycosides)
What are the medical treatments of ascites that was caused by cirrhosis, that will be done in the hospital?
- Moderate sodium restriction to 80-120 mmol/day
- Use of diuretics (Spironolactone is one of choice w/ or w/o addition of furosemide); monitor weight loss, creatinine, & sodium levels
- Therapeutic paracentesis if volume large
What are the medical treatments of ascites in cases where the ascites keeps coming back(refractory cases), even after Na-restrictions & max dose diuretics?
• Assoc. w/one-year mortality of 40%
• Large volume paracentesis
• Work-up for liver transplantation along w/TIPS (transjugular intra-hepatic portosystemic shunt) as
a bridge to transplant
Another condition that can happen in the case of severe ascites is pulmonary complications. How does this work?
Ascites fluid can collect in the pleural space, happening in about 10% of cirrhosis cases
Cirrhotic patients with a significant amount of pleural cavity have what type of symptoms?
• SOB and cough The accumulation of the fluid can lead to: • Hypoxemia • Atelectasis • Pneumonia • Empyema
What are the renal complications that can be seen in cases of ascites?
Acute to chronic renal injury.
- Very common in decompensated cirrhotic patients
Vascular tone, immune function, and related infections
What principle does the TIPS (transjugular intra-hepatic portosystemic shunt) procedure rely on?
The principle of establishing a direct continuity or low resistance from the large portal branch vein to the hepatic vein, by way of a shunting stent, which then bypasses the cirrhotic/high resistant fibrotic tissue(which generates the portal HTN and causes the ascites)
What are the benefits of the TIPS (transjugular intra-hepatic portosystemic shunt) procedure?
- Decreased requirements for diuretics
- Improved quality of life
- Improved mortality when compared to repetitive therapeutic paracentesis in patients with refractory ascites
What is the medical treatment of ascites in the case of infection?
Immediate use of a cephalosporin via IV
What are the PT considerations for treating a pt with ascites?
- Increased resting comfort in high Fowler position (HOB raised 18-20 in. above the level position w/knees elevated)
- Monitor for peripheral edema
- Patients may have more muscle wasting than evident due to the masking effect of edema
- Be aware of medical complications of medications used to decrease fluid retention
What is cirrhosis?
Chronic disease state characterized by hepatic parenchymal cell destruction & necrosis and the regeneration of tissue w/fibrosis or scar tissue formation. This may take years to develop
What are the primary complications that may develop in the presence of cirrhosis?
- Portal hypertension
- Ascites
- Jaundice
- Impaired clotting
- Hepatic encephalopathy causing mental status changes
What are the most common causes of cirrhosis?
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Viral hepatitis
What are the other causes of cirrhosis?
• Autoimmune: - Autoimmune hepatitis - Primary biliary cirrhosis - Primary sclerosing cholangilitis - IgG4 cholanglipathy • Chronic biliary disease - Recurrent bacterial cholangitis - Bile duct stenosis • Cardiovascular - Budd Chiari syndrome - R heart failure - Osler disease • Storage diseases - Hemochromatosis - Wilson disease - Alpha-1 - antitrypsin deficiency • Fatty liver disease - Alcoholic liver disease - Non alcoholic fatty liver disease • Rare causes - Medications and porphyria
Cirrhosis may be asymptomatic for years. When may symptoms commence, and when they do, what are they?
- Symptoms may commence when decompensation starts occurring
* 1st symptoms may be nonspecific (generalized fatigue, anorexia, malaise, weight loss)
What are other existing risk that may be present and help confirm the case of cirrhosis?
- Metabolic syndrome
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Exposure to hepatotoxic substances
- Use of hepatotoxic medications
What are the common signs and symptoms of cirrhosis?
- Cutaneous signs– jaundice, dry skin
- Firm liver on palpation
- Abdominal wall vascular collaterals (caput medusa)
- Ascites
- Asterixis
- Clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy
- Constitutional symptoms including anorexia, fatigue, weakness, and weight loss
- Splenomegaly
- Testicular atrophy
- Hepatomegaly
- Gynecomastia
What are the diagnostics available to diagnose cirrhosis in conjunction with the signs and symptoms?
- No specific lab test can diagnose it accurately
- Biopsy, which is the gold standard in diagnosing cirrhosis, but is only considered after a thorough and non invasive serologic and radiographic exam has failed to confirm the diagnosis
- Liver function test, but dont always correlate with hepatic function. Will include a liver panel with: AST, ALT, and alkalinphosphotase
- CBC with platelet prothrombin time
- Radiographic studies, even though there is no gold standard. CT and MRI can demonstrate the nodularity and low bar atrophic and hypertrophic changes and ascites
___ is the most cost effective screening test for identifying metabolic or drug induced hepatic injury
ALT is the most cost effective screening test for identifying metabolic or drug induced hepatic injury
How is the biopsy for the diagnosis of cirrhosis conducted?
It will be performed through a percutaneous transjugular laproscopic open operative or an ultrasound, or . CT guided fine needle approach
What is the 1st medical intervention for cirrhosis?
Prevention of cirrhosis by early dx of chronic liver disease via screening
What are the medical interventions for cirrhosis after the patient has been diagnosed?
• Prevention of cirrhosis by treating chronic liver disease
• Antiviral therapy in cirrhosis due to Hep B or C
• Immune suppression in autoimmune hepatitis
• Treatment of iron overload in hemochromatosis and copper overload in
Wilson disease
• Abstinence from alcohol in alcoholic cirrhosis
What do we want to screen patients for regularly when they have cirrhosis?
Regular screening for hepatocellular carcinoma
• Abdominal US every 6 months
What are the general supportive care for patients with cirrhosis that may have developed into cancer?
- Stopping injurious drugs
- Providing nutrition (including supplemental vitamins)
- Treating the underlying disorder
- Reduction of drugs metabolized in the liver
- Avoidance of hepatotoxic substances and drugs
- Vaccination against viral hepatitis A & B
What is the more invasive method of treating cirrhosis?
TIPS (transjugular intra-hepatic portosystemic shunt)
How do we treat severe cases of cirrhosis?
Liver transplantation
What is the progression of chronic liver disease?
- Chronic disease will lead to hepatic fibrosis (may be reversible with treatment)
- Hepatic fibrosis will lead to compensated cirrhosis (may be reversible with treatment) or it can lead to decompensated cirrhosis
- Compensated cirrhosis will lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (this is irreversible)
What are the PT implications of cirrhosis as seen with advanced liver disease?
Advanced liver disease is catabolic leading to sarcopenia, causing:
• Physical activity to be lower than in control groups
• Poor caloric intake typical in group and contributes to sarcopenia
True or False
There is a significant decrease in exercise capacity & muscle strength regardless of cirrhosis
etiology
True, There is a significant decrease in exercise capacity & muscle strength regardless of cirrhosis etiology
What are the predictors of mortality in cirrhosis?
High 6MWT, low maximal inspiratory pressure, & low VO2max
What were the effects of exercise training in patients with cirrhosis?
Exercise training well tolerated in cirrhosis pts. & results in improvements in exercise capacity & muscle mass. Although adherence is an issue, studies have shown 8 weeks of home exercise training effective
in improving peak aerobic power, submax aerobic endurance, & thigh muscle mass
Why is there a significant risk of falls in cirrhosis patients?
Due to minimal hepatic encephalopathy, loss of muscle strength, psychoactive drugs,
autonomic dysfunction, hyponatremia, sleep difficulties
___ is a common complication of cirrhosis
Frailty is a common complication of cirrhosis
What are the effects of transplants in cases of cirrhosis?
• Significant & independent assoc. between pre-transplant exercise capacity &
post-transplant survival
• Measuring & improving exercise capacity & muscle strength of patients w/cirrhosis awaiting liver transplant could improve outcomes
____ management is KEY component in cirrhosis due to increases shown in
skeletal muscle volume & strength and exercise capacity!
Exercise management is KEY component in cirrhosis due to increases shown in
skeletal muscle volume & strength and exercise capacity!
What are the general criterias for an organ transplant?
- Presence of end-stage disease in a transplantable organ
- Failure of conventional therapy to treat the condition successfully
- Absence of untreatable malignancy or irreversible infection
- Absence of disease that would attack the transplanted organ or tissue
What are the additional criterias for a liver transplant?
- Demonstrate emotional and psychological stability
- Have an adequate support system
- Be willing to comply w/life-long immunosuppressive drug therapy
- Undergo extensive laboratory and diagnostic studies during evaluation process
Specific other criteria may include age limits, absence of drug/alcohol abuse
What are the indications for a liver transplant?
• End-stage hepatic disease • Primary biliary cirrhosis • Chronic hepatitis B or C • Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) resulting from an acute viral, toxic, anesthetic-induced, or medication induced liver injury • Congenital biliary abnormalities • Sclerosing cholangitis • Confined hepatic malignancy (hepatocellular carcinoma) • Hereditary metabolic diseases (such as familial amyloid polyneuropathy) • Wilson’s disease • Budd-Chiari syndrome