PORTAL-SYSTEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Course overview

PORTOSYSTEMIC OR HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IS DEFINED AS A NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYNDROME DUE TO A PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT. THE CAUSATIVE FACTOR IS INCREASED AMMONIA LEVELS IN THE BLOOD. TREATMENT INVOLVES PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PROPHYLAXIS AND LIVER TRANSPLANT. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE EPIDEMIOLOGY, ETIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF PORTOSYSTEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.