Hepatic encephalopathy

Introduction Upper gastrointestinal bleeding can be manifested with hematemesis, melena or hematochezia. Acute bleeding due to gastroesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients is associated with higher morbidity, mortality rates as well as development of life-threatening complications. This bleeding significantly increase protein concentration in the bowel which results in increased ammonia production by colonic bacteria and precipitation of development of hepatic encephalopathy [1]. Hepatic encephalopathy, a neurological dysfunction disorder including a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and signs with different grades ranging from minimal abnormalities in neuropsychological function to coma [2]. Hyper ammonemia causes neurotransmitter…

Hepatic Encephalopathy Hepatic encephalopathy is a loss of brain function from advanced liver disease. The effects of the condition depend on the type of liver damage and how severe it is. In some cases, hepatic encephalopathy can be reversed. CAUSES The exact cause of hepatic encephalopathy is not known. RISK FACTORS You have a higher risk of getting this condition if your liver is damaged. When the liver is damaged harmful substances called toxins can build up in the body. Certain toxins,…

Background In 2014, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) published a new set of practice guidelines for Hepatic Encephalopathy (Vistrup et al., 2014). These guidelines define Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) as “a brain dysfunction caused by liver insufficiency and/or portosystemic shunting, and manifests as a wide spectrum of neurological/psychiatric abnormalities ranging from subclinical alterations to coma”…

TOXICITY (MDX): Patients who present more than 36 hours (“late”) after acute acetaminophen ingestion may have significant liver injury and even liver failure (INR greater than 1.5, acidosis or encephalopathy). Intubate patients with altered mental status and resuscitate hypotensive patients with crystalloid and adrenergic vasopressors. Treat coagulopathic patients who are bleeding with fresh frozen plasma. Patients with renal failure may require renal replacement therapy. Administer intravenous…

The portal triad is typically approached from the right. A wide Kocher maneuver is performed to mobilize the duodenum and head of the pancreas. The ascending colon and hepatic flexure are mobilized with right medial visceral rotation. The duodenum and right colon are reflected to the left to expose the retro-pancreatic or supra-pancreatic portal vein. Occasionally, we enter the lesser sac and divide the neck of pancreas if exposure of more distal portal vein is required. Control of…

Hunting is often portrayed purely as a form of sport or the quest for a big trophy. But what most people do not acknowledge is that it does much more for the human population in general. Hunting provides us with the resources that allow us to live comfortably. Not only does it do this, but it provides health to our environment as well as our economy. Hunting large game plays a vital role in the protection of our people, our resources, and the animals themselves. To begin, the killing of large…

Stellate Cells (SC) are morphologically characterized by dendrites that radiate from the main cell body leading to a star-like shape and giving rise to the name Stellate i.e. star-like. They can be found in various parts of the body such as: kidneys, lungs, liver, breast, and pancreas; some of these ones have been less thoroughly characterized compared to others such as hepatic SC [1-5]. Although the dissimilar microenvironment of SC in different parts of the body condition them to react…

Bovine brucellosis, which is caused by Brucella abortus, is a global zoonotic disease that primarily affects livestock (Rhyan, et al. 2013). The highly contagious bacterial disease can be found in both humans and animals. In humans, brucellosis can cause night sweats, recurrent fever, back and joint pain, arthritis, and other influenza like symptoms (Rhyan, et al. 2013). In livestock, it is known to cause abortions, arthritis, male reproductive tract lesions, retained placentas, and bursitis…

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is a transmissible, rapidly progressing, neurodegenerative disorder, closely related to “mad cow disease” (Gale, 2013). CJD is can be confused as Alzheimer's, but CJD is more rapidly progressing and ultimately leads to death. It is one of many ‘spongiform encephalopathies’ disease that causes fluid filled spaces in the brain called vacuoles that make the brain have a sponge-like appearance. There is an estimated 250 cases per year in the United…

with the samples of the hepatic vein, hepatic portal vein, and the mesenteric artery postprandial. The next three test tubes were measured to one centimeter with samples that were extracted from the same areas of the blood vessel system. The difference in the samples was that the second sets of samples were extracted during the fasting state. Water was then added to a beaker and it was set on top of the hot plate. After the water was boiling, Benedict's reagent was placed in to the six test…