Clinical aspects of hepatic disease

Publication date: Available online 27 November 2014 Source:Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Author(s): Czarina C.H. Leung , Karl K. Young Liver disease has a high prevalence in all parts of the world. Patients with advanced liver disease have poor outcome after surgery. Prognostic scoring systems help to identify patients at high risk. Chronic liver disease is associated with typical extra-hepatic manifestations, resulting from failure to clear endogenous vasodilators, splanchnic vasodilation, high cardiac output and decreased central blood volume. Some patients may develop complications, including hepatorenal syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension. In fulminant liver failure, cerebral oedema is a prominent feature. Without liver transplantation, these patients have a dismal prognosis. Appreciation of the multi-system sequelae of liver disease is a prerequisite to appropriate management.
Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research