What should a nurse do if a patient with cirrhosis has ascites?
A patient with advanced cirrhosis who has ascites is short of breath and has an increased respiratory rate. The nurse should: a. Initiate oxygen therapy at 2 L/min to increase gas exchange. b. Notify the health care provider so that a paracentesis can be performed. c. Ask the patient to cough and breathe deeply to clear respiratory secretions.
How do you manage hypotension in a liver failure PT?
Have the patient hold arms out before them with wrists hyperextended; observe for jerking movement What is your primary approach to managing hypotension in a liver failure pt? IV fluids Your acute liver failure pt has a coagulopathy. Which of the following treatments should you anticipate? All except protamine
Does your acute liver failure PT have a coagulopathy?
Your acute liver failure pt has a coagulopathy. Which of the following treatments should you anticipate? All except protamine Which of the following are potential complications of liver failure? Hypoglycemia and Esophageal varricies Which of the following lab abnormalities are commonly a result of liver failure? All except elevated K+
What indications should the nurse be alert for in cirrhosis?
what indications should the nurse be alert for in a patient with a history of cirrhosis, hepatitis, or other liver damage? Elevated ALT AST, alkaline phosphatase, serum ammonia, and bilirubin
What is first-line therapy for a patient with cirrhosis of the liver?
The first-line therapy for ascites in cirrhosis is low salt diet and diuretics. It is important to avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and nephrotoxic medications in these patients.
What is the priority nursing intervention in the management of a patient with decompensated cirrhosis?
Nursing management for the patient with cirrhosis of the liver should focus on promoting rest, improving nutritional status, providing skin care, reducing risk of injury, and monitoring and managing complications.
What is first-line treatment of hepatic encephalopathy?
The nonabsorbable disaccharide, lactulose, is considered the first-line therapeutic agent for treating hepatic encephalopathy. Acidification of the gastrointestinal tract is the principal mechanism by which the drug inhibits production of ammonia by coliform bacteria.
What is the rationale for treatment during the progressive course of liver disease?
Cirrhosis is a progressive liver disease that happens over time. The damage to your liver can sometimes reverse or improve if the trigger is gone, such as stop drinking alcohol or if the virus is treated. The goal of treatment is to slow down the buildup of scar tissue and prevent or treat other health problems.
What is nursing priority for cirrhosis?
Nursing considerations in the cirrhotic patient are to avoid infection and circulatory problems. Turn the patient and encourage coughing and deep breathing every 2 hours to prevent pneumonia. Because bleeding can occur, monitor the patient closely for signs of hypovolemia. Test any stool and emesis for blood.
What are the nursing interventions for liver disease?
Nursing care planning for patients with liver cirrhosis includes promoting rest, providing adequate nutrition, skin care, reducing risk for injury, and monitoring and managing complications.
What is the best treatment for liver cirrhosis?
The main treatments are cutting out salt from your diet and taking a type of medicine called a diuretic, such as spironolactone or furosemide. If the fluid in your tummy becomes infected, you may need antibiotics. In severe cases, you may need to have the fluid drained from your tummy area with a tube.
What is the management for hepatic encephalopathy?
Treatment of acute overt hepatic encephalopathy should include (1) supportive care, (2) identifying and treating any precipitating factors, (3) reduction of nitrogenous load in the gut, and (4) assessment of need for long-term therapy and liver transplant evaluation.
How hepatic encephalopathy is treated?
Hepatic Encephalopathy treatment therapies may include medications to treat infections, medications or procedures to control bleeding, stopping the use of medications that can trigger an episode and any appropriate therapy for kidney issues.
What can be done for liver failure?
Medications can help reduce the fluid buildup in your brain. Liver transplant. When acute liver failure can't be reversed, the only treatment may be a liver transplant. During a liver transplant, a surgeon removes your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver from a donor.
What happens during liver failure?
Liver failure occurs when your liver isn't working well enough to perform its functions (for example, manufacturing bile and ridding the body of harmful substances). Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, and blood in the stool. Treatments include avoiding alcohol and avoiding certain foods.
Is there any treatment for liver cirrhosis?
In advanced cases of cirrhosis, when the liver ceases to function, a liver transplant may be the only treatment option. A liver transplant is a procedure to replace your liver with a healthy liver from a deceased donor or with part of a liver from a living donor.