General Nursing©

CIRRHOSIS

It is important in patients with cirrhosis that nurses should check signs of bleeding in the skin, gums, stool, and emesis. The patient should be warned against taking aspirin, straining at stool, and blowing nose or sneezing too vigorously. Any signs of increasing stupor, lethargy, hallucinations, or neuromuscular dysfunction should be reported. The patient's weight and abdominal girth are measured daily. Ankles and sacrum are inspected for dependent edema, and fluid intake and output are recorded. Avoidance of soap when bathing is encouraged. We instruct patient to eat small frequent feedings. Also vitamins A, D, E, and K are supplied if fat malabsorption is present. The person with severe malabsorption may require intravenous vitamins with calcium gluconate supplementation. The person must eliminate intake of all hepatotoxins. The persons who abuse alcohol must stop drinking completely or the condition will worsen and progress to a terminal stage. The person who abuses drugs must understand that certain drugs may further damage the liver. We also counsel the individual to rest frequently and to avoid unnecessary fatigue.

We provide guidelines in preparation for care at home. Persons with cirrhosis live longer if they get adequate rest, abstain from alcohol, and eat nutritious meals.

Cirrhosis of the liver results from three factors:

(1) repeated injury to the liver cells,

(2) fatty change and death of many of these cells, and

(3) accumulation of fibrous scar tissue that ultimately prevents function of the liver.

Next/Previous