Medical Surgical Nursing

Management

 The key to optimizing treatment is rapid recognition of acute liver failure and

intensive interventions.

 The use of antidotes for certain conditions may be indicated such as N-

acetylcysteine for acetaminophen toxicity and penicillin for mushroom

poisoning.

 Treatment modalities may include plasma exchanges (plasmapheresis) to

correct coagulopathy and to stabilize the patient awaiting liver transplantation

HEPATIC CIRRHOSIS

 Cirrhosis is a chronic disease characterized by replacement of normal liver

tissue with diffuse fibrosis that disrupts the structure and function of the liver.

There are three types of cirrhosis or scarring of the live:

1. Alcoholic cirrhosis, in which the scar tissue characteristically surrounds the

portal areas. This is most frequently due to chronic alcoholism and is the

most common type of cirrhosis.

2. Postnecrotic cirrhosis, in which there are broad bands of scar tissue as a late

result of a previous infection of acute viral hepatitis.

3. Biliary cirrhosis, in which scarring occurs in the liver around the bile ducts.

This type usually is the result of chronic biliary obstruction and infection

(cholangitis); it is much less common than the other two types.