Question 1

i think my husband may have hepatic encephalopathy. what can they do?

Accepted Answer

Treat liver: Treatment involves treating the underlying liver disease, treat other problems that can make the problem worse such as infection, and medications to lower ammonia levels, ammonia being one the the toxins the damaged liver does not handle well.

Question 2

can bloodletting help someone with hepatic encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

No. (?): "Bloodletting" refers to the ancient and long-discredited practice of bleeding someone to remove "evil humors" (another long-outdated concept). "Therapeutic phlebotomy" is used to treat diseases that cause overproduction of red blood cells or their constituents eg hemochromatosis, polycythemia vera, porphyria cutanea tarda. It is NOT indicated for hepatic encephalopathy.

Question 3

what is the difference between uremia and hepatic encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

See below: Both can cause Metabolic Encephalopathies, or brain dysfunction.  Uremia due to kidney failure, hepatitis due to liver failure.  The pathways and toxicity are respectively different but the net effect on brain may be very similar.  Clinicians can easily distinguish the two entities.

Question 4

whats the difference between hepatic encephalopathy and portosystemic encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

Hepatic encephalop: These are essentially the same. Portosystemic encephalopathy may occur in fulminant hepatitis caused by viruses, drugs, or toxins, but it more commonly occurs in cirrhosis or other chronic disorders when extensive portosystemic collaterals have developed as a result of portal hypertension due to the changes in the liver structure. It may also occur after portocaval shunts.

Question 5

what is the treatment for hepatic encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

Underlying cause: The treatment of hepatic encephalopathy is three fold:
1) treat underlying cause of liver injury if possible ( so stop liver toxic drugs, steroids for autoimmune liver disease)
2) in patients with chronic liver disease, treat problems that can worsen the situation and cause encephalopathy such as infections, etc.
3) drugs to lower the ammonia levels, ammonia being too high in this condition.

Question 6

what is the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

This manifestation : Of liver disease occurs when the detoxifying function of the liver is compromised usually by chronic liver disease of one sort or another.  We measure ammonia levels in the blood as a marker for this dysfunction but other nitrogen containing substances are more responsible.

Question 7

what is best anticonvulsant in ptn. with hepatic encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

??PTN: I don't know what you mean by ptn.  However, hepatic encephalopathy generally refers to the confusion that patients with cirrhosis develop.  The sick liver is unable to clear toxins which then affect the brain.  The patient will experience memory difficulties, difficulty with sleep, alterations in personality, and at its worse, it can cause coma.

Question 8

what are the roles of herbs in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

None!: I do not know of any good herbs that can help you. It is a serious problem and only a liver specialist(hepatologist) can help you with this problem.

Question 9

what is the life expectancy of an 80 year old lady with hepatic encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

Poor prognosis: Generally speaking hepatic encephalopathy occurs with advanced liver disease. Hepatic encephalopathy is associated with short survival in cirrhotic patients. Although these patients can be classified into several groups with a different prognosis, the survival probability in every group is lower than that currently expected after liver transplantation.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/10365817/.

Question 10

can hepatic encephalopathy cause someone to have spontaneous movements and be unresponsive?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Those movements may have been myoclonus. If their liver disease is treated successfully, they can have a good recovery. Hope that helps!

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Nursing care plan for hepatic encephalopathy

A member asked:

I think my husband may have hepatic encephalopathy. what can they do?

A member asked:

Can bloodletting help someone with hepatic encephalopathy?

A member asked:

What is the difference between uremia and hepatic encephalopathy?

A member asked:

Whats the difference between hepatic encephalopathy and portosystemic encephalopathy?

A member asked:

What is the treatment for hepatic encephalopathy?

A member asked:

What is the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy?

A member asked:

What is best anticonvulsant in ptn. with hepatic encephalopathy?

A member asked:

What are the roles of herbs in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy?

A member asked:

What is the life expectancy of an 80 year old lady with hepatic encephalopathy?

A member asked:

Can hepatic encephalopathy cause someone to have spontaneous movements and be unresponsive?

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