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Early Integration of Advance Care Planning (ACP) into Cirrhosis Care: Why We Need It

  • Management of Cirrhotic Patient (A Cardenas and P Tandon, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Hepatology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Patients with cirrhosis are largely unaware of the disease trajectory. This review emphasizes the importance of early advance care planning (ACP) and provides practitioners with a framework to apply these concepts.

Recent Findings

Literature is arising describing the importance of ACP and application of palliative principles (symptom management, quality of life, social, spiritual, and emotional care) in cirrhosis care. Understanding illness trajectories can promote symptom control, promote appropriate location of care, and ease care transitions. Our group of practitioners has spent time reviewing literature on ACP and has published tools to educate patients, surrogates, and health practitioners regarding the importance of these principles. In addition, work is ongoing to integrate this very important aspect of care into the daily practice of practitioners who managed end-stage-liver disease.

Summary

Early ACP and integration of palliative principles into cirrhosis care is critical. Provided is an action plan for implementing early ACP into end-stage liver disease (ESLD) care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, 2D4.48, WCM Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2B7, Canada

    Amanda Brisebois

  2. Department of Oncology, Division of Palliative Care, University of Alberta and Covenant Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Amanda Brisebois

  3. Cirrhosis Care Clinic, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Puneeta Tandon

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  1. Amanda Brisebois
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Correspondence to Amanda Brisebois.

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Amanda Brisebois and Puneeta Tandon each declare no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Management of Cirrhotic Patient

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Brisebois, A., Tandon, P. Early Integration of Advance Care Planning (ACP) into Cirrhosis Care: Why We Need It. Curr Hepatology Rep 17, 70–77 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-018-0391-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-018-0391-0

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