Liver failure occurs when the liver becomes unable to perform its hundreds of functions. The liver is an extremely vital organ that, when damaged, causes multiple symptoms. The American Academy of Family Physicians report that the destruction of 80 to 90 percent of liver function often occurs before patients show signs of liver failure. Liver failure progresses to death unless transplant becomes an option.
Altered Mental Status and Drowisness
As liver failure worsens, drowsiness and increased sleeping commonly occurs. "Medical Surgical Nursing" reports that patients often become anemic due to liver failure. Lack of appetite and malnutrition from the liver's inability to metabolize food also plays a role. A condition known as hepatic encephalopathy causes many mental changes including confusion, behavior changes, impaired decision making, coma, and death. This condition causes a buildup of toxins in the blood and brain due to the liver's inability to remove these wastes from the body.
Abdominal Discomforts
Several abdominal discomforts arise in the end stages of liver failure. Fluid build up in the abdomen called ascites causes distension of the abdomen, pain, tightness, bloating, and shortness of breath. "Medical Surgical Nursing" reports that other symptoms associated with liver failure include nausea, vomiting, indigestion, excess gas, feeling full quickly, loss of appetite. Malnutrition usually leads to significant weight loss and increases fatigue.
Skin Changes
Jaundice describes a common condition suffered by those with liver failure. This condition occurs due to the liver's inability to filter a substance called billirubin. As a result levels build in the blood and turn the skin a yellow or orange hue. Sclera of the eyes also appear yellow. Fingernails often show white bands during liver failure. The University of Maryland Medical Center also reports the appearance of spider veins, bruising, and itchy skin as symptoms of liver failure.
Risk for Bleeding
Liver failure patients are at higher risk for developing a life threatening bleed due to the livers' inability to absorb vitamin K, which aids in the clotting of blood. Another problem that increases the risk of bleeding is called portal hypertension. The University of Maryland Medical Center describes this condition as the high blood pressure in the portal vein of the liver. With this condition, blood backs up into the veins of the esophagus, stomach and intestines, causing them to bulge and putting them at risk for rupture.
References
- "Medical Surgical Nursing" Ignatavicius, D. MSN, Workman, L. PhD.; 2002
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Characteristics of Liver Failure
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Cirrhosis and Chronic Liver Failure Part I
