hepatic encephalopathy

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Has anyone worked with someone with hepatic encephalopathy? What causes this?:nurse:

Specializes in Neuro /Med-Surg.

My mother died from end stage liver disease. How long they live and what their lives are like depends on the cause and their comorbit conditions. At first my mother wasn't sick enough for a liver transplant and then she was too sick for one. In 2003 she was able to work and had a basicly normal life, by 2005 she was placed on hospice and by June 2006 she pasted away. Without knowing the cause and what other medical conditions the person has there is no way to say if it can be taken care of or wheather they will have a chronic or even life ending condition.

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Thanks for all the replies and information on my question, it was very helpful. :redbeathe

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My husband was diagnosed with HE last year and this is a most insidious disease. He was an alcoholic for about 5 years but stopped drinking about 30 years ago! It took 3-4 trips to the ER before he was finally diagnosed. He would rapidly advance from Stage 0 to about a Stage 3.

I now know that I can start increasing the Lactulose before he gets too bad, but the episodes have started to increase in frequency, but not severity. Although he doesn't eat 'healthy' - his diet does not include a lot of red meat or protein so I don't know why the increase in episodes.

Can I keep him at home or will he eventually have to be in a nursing facility? I worry about him falling since he is so frail and confused.

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My husband was diagnosed with HE last year and this is a most insidious disease. He was an alcoholic for about 5 years but stopped drinking about 30 years ago! It took 3-4 trips to the ER before he was finally diagnosed. He would rapidly advance from Stage 0 to about a Stage 3.

I now know that I can start increasing the Lactulose before he gets too bad, but the episodes have started to increase in frequency, but not severity. Although he doesn't eat 'healthy' - his diet does not include a lot of red meat or protein so I don't know why the increase in episodes.

Can I keep him at home or will he eventually have to be in a nursing facility? I worry about him falling since he is so frail and confused.

as soon as you start becoming concerned about his safety, i think it is time to start considering other options.

perhaps you can get some input from his doctor?

and unfortunately, an increase in frequency is an increase in severity.

wishing you only the very best.

leslie

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