LIVER FAILURE AND RENAL FAILURE- QUIZ QUESTIONS

The patient with cirrhosis of the liver

Scenario: Mr.X was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of liver failure.
He is awake, but lethargic. His abdomen is distended ( ascites) and his foley
catheter has low urinary output, which is tea colored. He is short of breath
and the doctor has ordered oxygen via nasal cannula. Mr.X's ammonia level 
is high due to liver failure. Lactulose ( po) has been ordered by the doctor.

                     THE LIVER
The liver is the largest organ in the body. It lies in the right, upper quadrant
 of the abdomen. It's functions include:
- detoxifies harmful substances and stores glycogen, vitamins and minerals
- metabolizes protein and carbohydrates
- produces and excretes bile which is used to emulsify fats, turns ammonia 
  into urea which is excreted by the kidneys
- transports bile salts and pigments used in the digestion of food
- produces clotting factors like fibrinogen and prothrombin

 * Liver failure and its connection to kidney failure:
Patients who have liver failure may also have kidney ( renal failure).
When the kidneys lose their ability to excrete urine, hemodialysis is
ordered by the doctor. Liver failure


Hemodialysis and kidney failure

The kidneys are two bean shaped organs that lie in the 
abdominal cavity.

The kidneys are part of the excretory system. They filter
and excrete waste products from the blood.This is passed
out as urine. 

If the kidneys fail, hemodialysis is ordered by the doctor, in 
an attempt to remove waste products. Depending on the situation,
this may be short or long term.

Quiz questions

1) What are some of the signs of the patient in liver failure?
2) What did the doctor order for the high ammonia level?
3) What are some of the functions of the liver?
4) Which other organ may be affected?
5) How is renal failure treated?



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HELPFUL INFORMATION ABOUT AN AORTIC ABDOMINAL ANEURYSM

Image
  Scenario: Mr. S is an elderly male who has a longstanding history of hypertension. He suddenly develops throbbing  in the abdomen. He notified his doctor and was admitted to the hospital for tests. A CAT scan would reveal an  Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Surgical intervention for AAA was done emergently. Following surgery, Mr.S was transferred to the ICU  for a higher level of care. During his stay, his vital  signs, neurological, cardiac and respiratory status   would all be monitored. Please click on the links for more learning: Hemodynamic Monitoring Info for the layperson
Read more

CARDIOGENIC SHOCK - QUIZ QUESTIONS

Image
Myocardial infarction A heart attack is the layman's term for a (MI) myocardial infarction.     It is caused by  a lack of blood supply to the heart muscle. A blood clot  or plaque, may obstruct the flow of blood. This typically occurs in the    patient with CAD (   coronary artery disease) .  Symptoms include:                           chest pain which may radiate to the shoulder and jaw, pressure or                                                             tightness in the chest, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath.                                                                                                              Cardiogenic shock The left ventricle receives its blood supply from the LAD ( left anterior descending) artery. If the flow of blood to the left ventricle is obstructed by a clot or plaque, part  of the heart muscle may die. This lack of blood flow to the left ventricle causes pump failure. Cardiogenic shock may result from pump failure.     
Read more

CHEST PAIN ASSESSMENT AND EKG - QUIZ

Image
Chest pain is a very common complaint . It may occur anywhere and anytime, even at rest. It may be related to stress or actual damage to the heart. A patient having a heart attack, may very readily complain of chest pain. Helpful hints: If the patient in your care is complaining of chest pain,   immediate action should be taken to assess the pain. Chest pain may be sharp, severe and stabbing. It may also feel like pressure in the chest or  Like a pair of hands squeezing the chest.  It is important to do a pain assessment on a scale of 1-10 and document results. It is also of note to ask the patient to describe the character  and duration of the pain. Always remember to document all interventions. Follow your Institution's policies, procedures and MD orders for chest pain. Do you know your heart Simple EKG interpretation: The EKG (Electrocardiogram) is a noninvasive, simple diagnostic test. It is  a reflection of  the electrical conduction system of the heart. It consists of 12 lead
Read more