Week 5; Acute Care GI Flashcards
(122 cards)
Normal fxn of liver
Filtration of blood from stomach, spleen, pancreas, intestine, manufactures & secretes bile, manufacture of fibrinogen, prothrombin, heparin, vitamin A, immunoglobulins, storage of vitamins, metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, drugs, alcohol, and hormones, aids in destruction of aging RBC, and regulation of blood volume by storing up to 400ml of blood.
Cirrhosis
Characterized by widespread fibrotic (scarred) bands of connective tissue. This changes the liver’s normal makeup and its associated cellular regulation. Livers become nodular; blood and lymph flow are impaired. Inflammation destroys hepatocytes.
Compensated cirrhosis
the liver is scarred and cellular regulation is impaired, but able to perform essential functions
Decompensated cirrhosis
liver function is impaired and S/S of liver failure
Common causes of cirrhosis
Alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis, steatohepatitis (from fatty liver), drugs and chemical toxins, gallbladder disease, metabolic/genetic causes, and cardiovascular disease
Postnecrotic cirrhosis etiology
Hepatitis C—second leading cause in the United States, Hepatitis B and D—most common cause worldwide
NAFLD-non alcoholic fatty liver disease
Alcoholic cirrhosis etiology
Alcohol use—excessive and prolonged
Biliary cirrhosis etiology
Chronic biliary obstruction and infection.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Associated with diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Can progress to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or liver failure. THE PNPLA3 gene identifies as a risk gene for the disease, hispanics have this gene more often than other ethnic groups. Most common cause of liver disease in the world.
What is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver failure in the US?
Hep C
Assessing for liver disease
Assess for exposure to alcohol and drugs, herbs, chemicals, needlestick injury, tattoo placement, imprisonment, or employment as a healthcare worker, firefighter, or police officer. Assess sexual history and orientation. Inquire about family history. Collect previous medical history.
Liver disease s/s
Fatigue, significant changes in weight, GI symptoms-anorexia and vomiting, alterations in abdominal area and liver tenderness, obvious yellowing of skin (jaundice) and sclerae, increased abdominal girth - ascites, dry skin, rashes, petechiae or ecchymosis, warm, bright red palms (palmar erythema), increased bleeding tendencies, dark urine, clay-colored stools, edema in extremities.
Jaundice -
characterized by excessive circulating bilirubin levels. Liver cells cannot effectively secrete bilirubin and the skin and mucous membranes become characterized by a yellow discoloration,
First sign of hepatic encephalopathy –
subtle changes in personality
DX of liver disease
Laboratory assessment,
AST, ALT, LDH- elevated
Alkaline phosphatase-elevated
Serum protein-elevated, albumin-decreased
Serum total bilirubin-elevated
PT/INR prolonged liver because of decreased prothrombin.
Imaging assessment
Abdominal x-rays
CT, MRI
MR elastography
Other diagnostic assessment
Liver US, arteriography, EGD, ERCP
Complications of cirrhosis
Bleeding, hypovolemia, edema, decreased albumin production in liver, massive ascites – renal vasoconstriction and sodium and water retention, coagulation defects, jaundice, splenomegaly, hepatorenal syndrome
Hepatorenal syndrome
Prognosis for patient with liver failure poor; sudden decrease in urine output <500 mL/24hr, elevated BUN and creatinine levels. Often occurs after clinical deterioration from GI bleeding or onset of hepatic encephalopathy
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Those at risk have advanced liver disease.
Bacteria responsible typically from bowel and reach the ascitic fluid after migrating through bowel wall and transversing the lymphatics
Symptoms vary but fever, chills, pain and tenderness common. Can have worsening encephalopathy and increased jaundice without abdominal symptoms
Portal hypertension
Major complication of cirrhosis. Persistent increase in pressure within the portal vein caused from resistance or obstruction of blood flow. Blood looks for alternative venous channels around the blockage. Blood backs up into the spleen, esophagus, stomach, intestines, abdomen and rectum.
Varices
Thin vein walls distend from increased pressure.
Esophageal most common, hemorrhoids are another common area. Hypovolemic shock can occur.
Esophageal varices
Are fragile and thin walled esophageal veins that become distended and tortuous from increased pressure. S/s include hematemesis and melena (black tarry stools)
Bleeding esophageal varices
Life-threatening medical emergency resulting in hypovolemic shock
Managing hemorrhage d/t esophageal varices
Endoscopic variceal ligation (banding)
Emergency rescue- esophagogastric balloon tamponade. Can cause life threatening complications such as aspiration, asphyxia and esophageal perforation. Patient usually intubated on mechanical ventilator to protect airway; only used if the patient can not have an endoscopy or TIPS procedure
Hypovolemic shock review
Abnormally decreased volume of circulating fluid causing peripheral circulatory failure that endangers vital organs. The brain, heart, kidneys are particularly vulnerable. Tachycardia is an early sign of compensation for excessive blood loss. Tachycardia, tachypnea, BP normal initially, decrease or narrowing in pulse pressure (difference between systolic and diastolic), elevated BP can occur initially until compensatory mechanisms fail. Acidosis with vasodilation and decreased BP, increased bleeding, decreased circulating volume, and subsequent organ death.