Background and Aims: Liver cirrhosis (LC) of any origin has always been a source of several emergencies for physicians working at the Emergency Department (ER). LC patients can present with several complications that are sometimes difficult to recognize and treat. Thus, we reviewed the literature evidence for the diagnosis and management of several LC related emergencies. Methods: We conducted a search on the main medical databases for papers, reviews, metanalyses, case series, and RCTs using the following keywords and their associations: liver cirrhosis, variceal hemorrhage, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepato-renal syn-drome, emergency. Results: Main LC emergencies are upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, decompensated ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepato-renal syndrome. Their management is partly medical and interventional. Very often, the final cure of some complications, such as hepato-renal syndrome, is represented by liver transplantation. Conclusion: Although LC prevalence is going to fall in the following years, due to HBV and HCV optimized treatments, its complications represent a significant admission percentage at the ER and challenge for physicians’ skills.

Liver cirrhosis complications management at the emergency department / Scarpellini, E.; Luigiano, C.; Svegliati-Baroni, G.; Dumitrascu, D.; Larussa, T.; Santori, V.; Luzza, F.; Abenavoli, L.. - In: REVIEWS ON RECENT CLINICAL TRIALS. - ISSN 1574-8871. - 15:4(2020), pp. 331-338. [10.2174/1574887115666200603160816]

Liver cirrhosis complications management at the emergency department

Svegliati-Baroni G.;
2020-01-01

Abstract

Background and Aims: Liver cirrhosis (LC) of any origin has always been a source of several emergencies for physicians working at the Emergency Department (ER). LC patients can present with several complications that are sometimes difficult to recognize and treat. Thus, we reviewed the literature evidence for the diagnosis and management of several LC related emergencies. Methods: We conducted a search on the main medical databases for papers, reviews, metanalyses, case series, and RCTs using the following keywords and their associations: liver cirrhosis, variceal hemorrhage, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepato-renal syn-drome, emergency. Results: Main LC emergencies are upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, decompensated ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepato-renal syndrome. Their management is partly medical and interventional. Very often, the final cure of some complications, such as hepato-renal syndrome, is represented by liver transplantation. Conclusion: Although LC prevalence is going to fall in the following years, due to HBV and HCV optimized treatments, its complications represent a significant admission percentage at the ER and challenge for physicians’ skills.
2020
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11566/290070
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 4
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact