05.02 Liver Overview and Disease

Nursing Points

General

1. Liver disease
   1. Liver
      1.   Detoxifies blood
         1. Through Kupper cells
         2. Unhealthy liver
            1. Causes back-up in organs
      2. The Liver Synthesizes
         1. Bile
         2. Amino acids
         3. Albumin
         4. Prothrombin
         5. Fibrinogen
         6. Cholesterol
      3. The Liver’s Role
         1. The liver converts glucose to glycogen
         2. The liver converts ammonia to urea
   2. Liver disease
      1. Preventing Damage to liver
         1. Acoid high potassium levels
            1. Caution with Aldactone–> Potassium sparing diuretic
         2. Increased BUN, Protein, Acids
            1. Causes Metabolic Acidosis
            2. Ringers lactate will convert to lactic acid in liver disease
            3. All increase ammonia levels
               1. Causes hepatic encephalopathy
   3. Contraindications and Treatment for Liver failure/disease
      1. Glucagon is contraindicated in liver failure because it is broken down by the liver
      2.   Neomycin Therapy is treatment for liver disease
         1. Destroys bacteria in the bowels
         2. Prevents vitamin synthesis and ammonia release
   4. Complication of liver diease
      1. Vitamin deficiency