Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD)

First Things First (assess for & treat the following)

  • Clinical manifestations resulting from 3 factors
    • Hepatocellular insufficiency
      • Coagulopathy
      • Encephalopathy
    • Portal hypertension
      • GI bleeding
      • Thrombocytopenia
      • Ascites
    • Extrahepatic damage by alcohol
      • Cardiomyopathy
      • Malnutrition/vitamin deficiency
      • Immunocompromise/infection
      • Pancreatitis
  • Mortality of hospitalized pts varies from 0-100%!
  • Patients with altered mental status may need intubation for airway protection.

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Last updated: April 16, 2010