Liver Cirrhosis
Jenna M. Keirn
Institute of Technology Clovis

Liver Cirrhosis What is liver cirrhosis? It is a chronic liver disease. By definition in Textbook of Basic Nursing ( Roshdal B. Caroline, Kowalski T. Mary) “ Cirrhosis is a chronic, degenerative disease of the parenchymal cells ( the normal architecture and functioning cells) of the liver.” When you have cirrhosis eventually it will get to the point where your liver can no longer do what it is supposed to do. If a patient has uncontrolled cirrhosis it can result in hepatorenal syndrome and hepatic coma. Eventually all body functions will deteriorate. According to Textbook of Basic Nursing (Roshdal B. Caroline, Kowalski T. Mary) “ Toxins absorbed by the GI tract …show more content…
Teaching the client about the disease and ways to manage it is a huge part in improving the clients health. Dietary and fluid restrictions is a huge necessity to promote the clients health. According to Textbook of Basic Nursing ( Roshdal B. Caroline, Kowalski T. Mary) “ The diet is high in vitamins, moderate in carbohydrates and fats, and low in sodium; the amount of protein depends on the liver’s functional level. If these essential nutrients are not supplied, the body burns up its store of protein , thus increasing accumulation of ammonia ( a waste product) in the blood.” Vitamin B12 and multivitamins are usually also given with this diet. Clients with liver cirrhosis will most likely have a poor appetite. A couple ways to possibly increase a poor appetite would be frequent oral hygiene and small liquid or semisolid meals frequently. The client will also need to be taught about quitting drinking alcohol, stopping using tobacco, and eliminating fatty foods. Examples of fatty foods that need to be eliminated are pork, bacon, gravies, and pastries. According to Textbook of Basic Nursing ( Roshdal B. Caroline, Kowalski T. Mary) “ Vitamin K is given ( usually subcutaneously) to reduce the risk of hemorrhage.” Like any injection you give you need to watch for bleeding and bruising on the skin after the injection. You will need to monitor weight daily and collect accurate I&O’s and that will tell you …show more content…
Studies have been done to show that clients who have cirrhosis don't always get the proper treatment. Goals that have been made to help these clients are to be administered antibiotics, have them screened for hepatocellular cancer, and reducing preventable hospital readmissions. According to Improving Quality of Care in Patients with Cirrhosis ( Kanwal Fasiha, El-Serag Hashem) “ Existing data are sparse in the extent to which patients with cirrhosis receive guideline-recommended care, but few important studies indicate significant shortfalls.” Some ways to improve on helping these clients would be to if a client comes in to a hospital with liver cirrhosis there should be a standing order for antibiotics and certain treatments, an example would be most hospitals have standard order sets if a client comes in with a stroke, there should be a standing order set for liver cirrhosis clients as well. Another way to improve to help these clients is to have them referred to the right specialists to help them, for example a gastroenterologist or a hepatologist. Clients who are at risk for developing liver cirrhosis should not drink