Medical Surgical Nursing

11. Benzodiazepine antagonists (flumazenil [Romazicon]) may be

administered to improve encephalopathy whether or not the patient has

previously taken benzodiazepines.

Nursing Management

 Maintaining a safe environment to prevent injury, bleeding, and infection. The

nurse administers the prescribed treatments and monitors the patient for the

many potential complications.

 • If the patient recovers from hepatic encephalopathy and coma, rehabilitation is

likely to be prolonged.

Teaching Patients Self-Care

 If the patient has recovered from hepatic encephalopathy and is to be discharged

home, the nurse instructs the family to watch for subtle signs of recurrent

encephalopathy.

 In the acute phase of hepatic encephalopathy, dietary protein may be reduced to

0.8 to 1.0 g/kg per day. Instruct the patient in maintenance of a low-protein,

high-calorie diet. Vegetable protein intake may result in improved nitrogen

balance without precipitating or advancing hepatic encephalopathy