UNDERSTANDING LIVER FAILURE

Updated 6/25

Dear nurses, 

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The image above, is intended to help you
understand the clinical picture of a patient
in liver failure.

The liver ia a large and very complex organ with a lot
of work to do. Bile production which aids digestion,
converting ammonia into urea for excretion, coagulation
functions and more. Liver damage either acute or chronic
 is very debilitating to the patient.

Damage to the liver may have various causes.
The course of illness may be short or prolonged.

Patients who have illness due to liver damage may
 have jaundice . This is manifested by a yellow
pigmentation of the skin, sclera of the eyes and urine.

The skin is typically very dry and itchy. Liver  damage 
may also lead to kidney failure , coagulation( clotting )
problems and hepatic encephalopathy. 

As the liver loses the ability to do its normal functions ,
patients may experience bleeding problems, or become
increasingly lethargic,  which can lead to coma.

             Learn more about liver: Liver failure and anasarca.