Cirrhosis Med Surg: GI - Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology Causes Liver cirrhosis THINK liver Scarrrosis. Since normal healthy tissues get replaced with SCAR tissue, making the liver hard like a rock! Anything that causes inflammation & scarring to the liver: • Alcohol abuse • Chronic Hepatitis (inflammation) • Cystic fibrosis (serious mucus clogs the entire body & the liver) Chronic Hepatitis Year Year 2 Year 1 3 ! ! ! ! Liver Albumin Producing Detoxing ammonia Drug metabolism ! Albumin Transports drugs in the body 4 major roles & responsibilities ! Also attracts water Binds with Calcium Storing Glycogen Ca • A - Albumin • B - Bile • C - Coagulation factors NH3 NH3 NH3 NH3 NH3 NH3 NH3 A - Albumin A - Attracts water, drugs & binds with calcium Bile Clotting Factors Which we call the Bile Bus helping to scoop up excess Cholesterol & Bilirubin and take them from the body to the toilet via the bowels. When the liver fails we get higher cholesterol & high bilirubin. Bilirubin causes jaundice in the body. This is see as yellowing of the skin & the eyes, specifically the white part of the eye called the sclera. Memory Trick Bilirubin Cholesterol In liver disease, the blood can’t clot fast enough & leads to a HUGE risk of bleeding. Our #1 concern is the BLEEDING! HESI Question Which complication is a patient with cirrhosis at risk for? ● Bleeding ! Bile Bus ! !
