Irreversible damage to liver cells that results in the formation of tough fibrous tissue in the liver describes cirrhosis. Cirrhosis leads to the permanent destruction of the liver tissues and is a progressive disease. In early stages, the American Academy of Family Physicians reports that 40 percent of patients living with cirrhosis experience no symptoms. When cirrhosis damage advances, several symptoms occur due to the organ's failure.
Abdominal Distension
Abdominal distension or enlargement of the abdomen occurs commonly in patients with advanced cirrhosis. "Medical Surgical Nursing" reports that fluid accumulates and pools in the abdominal cavity unable to drain. This fluid accumulation is known as ascites. Enlargement of the liver due to inflammation also accounts for some abdomen distension. This distension is often very uncomfortable and causes abdominal pain, pressure, and tightness of the skin.
Mental Confusion
Advanced cirrhosis often leads to a condition called hepatic encephalopathy. This condition occurs when the liver is unable to rid the body of toxins, in particular ammonia. As a result, ammonia levels increase to toxic levels and cause a number of symptoms. "Medical Surgical Nursing" states that symptoms include personality changes, drowsiness, confusion, impaired thought processes, fatigue and inability to concentrate. If left untreated, hepatic encephalopathy leads to coma and death.
Gastrointestinal Complications
Several gastrointestinal symptoms occur in late stage cirrhosis. The University of Maryland Medical Center lists nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, and pale or clay colored bowel movements as symptoms that occur with advanced cirrhosis. Bleeding of the stomach, esophagus, and intestine result commonly with advanced cirrhosis because the liver is partly responsible for the coagulation of blood. Diarrhea and abdominal pain also occur with advanced cirrhosis of the liver.
Skin Alterations
Many changes in skin changes occur as a result of the destruction of liver tissue from cirrhosis. Jaundice commonly occurs and results in a yellow or orange appearance of the skin and sclera of the eyes. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, reddened palms, nails changes and spider veins also occur in the patient with cirrhosis. Skin tends to bruise easily due to decreased coagulation of blood.
References
- "Medical Surgical Nursing" Ignatavicius, D. MSN, Workman, L. PhD.; 2002
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Cirrhosis
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Cirrhosis and Chronic Liver Failure
