Hepatic encephalopathy – Straight to the point of care (2024) Unknown Author

Description

Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by acute or chronic advanced hepatic insufficiency. Symptoms vary in severity from a mild alteration in mental state to coma but are often reversible with treatment. Causation is thought to be multi-factorial, resulting in brain exposure to ammonia that has bypassed the liver through portosystemic shunting. Diagnosis is based on reported neurological deficits combined with laboratory abnormalities showing severe liver dysfunction. Treatment approaches include providing supportive care (such as preventing aspiration), correcting precipitating factors, and reducing gastrointestinal production of ammonia.