Hepatology

Background Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC), also known as an autoimmune liver disease, damages the bile ducts within the liver. In the body the ducts play an important part in digestion because they carry fluid away from the liver. Over time the pressure builds up from the fluid causes the cirrhosis of the liver. The destruction of the bile ducts can have early symptoms such as fatigue, itchy skin, and jaundice. Prevalence/Incidence Primary Biliary Cirrhosis is mostly found in women…

Liver Cirrhosis Liver Cirrhosis is considered to be one of the deadliest disease among men and women nationwide. With its leading cause of death and illness mostly in the United States, roughly 5.5 million people, which is 2% of the U.S. population are affected by Cirrhosis. In essence, 26,000 deaths occur each year, but who/what age range does this disease usually affect? What are the causes and symptoms? Can it be cured? Let’s take a look at the facts and statistics! In the human body system,…

This paper seeks to determine whether it is morally sound to exclude alcoholics from the transplant waiting list or if alcoholics should be placed in a lower slot on the list. One side argues that alcoholics should get equal access to new livers and that all should be placed on the waiting list regardless of the reason that they are in need of a new liver. The other side believes in what is known as maximum benefit, or the idea that alcoholics should not be excluded from the list, but should be…

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of gallbladder and associated with the Cholelithiasis (stones in the gallbladder) which is a common disorder of the biliary system of the body. Composed of cholesterol can form gallstone in the gallbladder and gallstones can cause cholecystitis by obstructing the cystic duct resulting in oedema and inflammation of gallbladder (William, & Hopper, 2014). Acute Cholecystitis is the absence of stones this is known as acute or chronic acalculous, it is usually a…

Cirrhosis of the liver can be detected by different tests and studies. They can be both invasive and non-invasive procedures. They range from a physical examination to diagnostic test and clinical findings. Diagnostic examinations include blood tests, serum-protein tests, various chemical tests, and ultrasound imaging among other assortments for detection is disease. Measuring the levels of certain chemicals produced by the liver can show how competently your liver is functiong. Blood tests may…

Gallstones are formed when a chemical imbalance in the bile chemical makeup occurs and roughly effects about 10-15% of all Western adults.4 In the human body, the gallbladder produces bile which is made up of components of not only bile salts and phospholipids but also cholesterol. When the liver secretes an excessive amount of cholesterol or an increase consumption of salt and water, build up of cholesterol occurs in the gallbladder forming a gallstone. Often, gallstones are small enough to…

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) naturally occurs in healthy patients less than 3three times per daydaily when contents enter the esophagus with or without regurgitation. However, gastroesophageal reglux disease (GERD) is reflux with the presence of bothersome or harmful symptoms and complications1. In pediatric patients, symptoms include regurgitation or spitting up, poor weight gain or weight loss, irritability, dysphasia, stridor, cough, hoarseness, hematemesis, and chest pain indicating…

station, now's the time to get up and move around. The Disease and the study Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease occurs when extra fat builds up in the liver, causing possible scarring, and in certain cases, liver failure. Published in the Journal of Hepatology , the study was done in North Korea and included people around the age of 40. It was found that approximately 35,000 out of the 140,000 people who sat for 10 hours or more during the day had developed liver disease. That's 9% of the…

In the nursing field there are over 100 areas to specialize in. This large quantity of options makes it difficult for a young adult to know what he or she would like to specialize in and work with. There are two major ways to explore and find out where one’s calling may be, clinical experience and shadowing. The shadow opportunity was very enlightening. I was able to learn about a new floor of medicine I was not very familiar with; while shadowing a nationally recognized award winning nurse.…

Compare and contrast treatment options and nursing implications when caring for the patient with bleeding esophageal varices. When an esophageal varice begins to bleed, there is really only one treatment option or nursing implication and that is to stop the bleeding. This can be achieved in a few different ways, but it is important to note that if the bleeding isn’t controlled quickly, the result is often shock and death. One way an esophageal bleed is managed is with placing a rubber band…