Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy is a reversible decrease in the level of consciousness occurring as a consequence of liver disease. The manifestations of hepatic encephalopathy vary, and this diagnosis should be considered in any critically ill patient with altered mental status and evidence of liver disease. Prompt diagnosis and treatment may prevent further complications in severely ill patients, and improve the quality of life in patients with more subtle disease.
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Suggested Reading
Conn HO. Hepatic encephalopathy. In: Schiff L, Schiff ER, eds. Diseases of the liver, 7th ed. Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1993, pp. 1036–1060.
Blei AT, Finn B. Hepatic encephalopathy. In: Bayless TM, ed. Current therapy in gastroenterology and liver disease, 4th ed. Mosby, St. Louis, MO, 1994, pp. 524–528.
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Kormis, K.K., Wu, G.Y. (1998). Hepatic Encephalopathy. In: Wu, G.Y., Israel, J. (eds) Diseases of the Liver and Bile Ducts. Current Clinical Practice. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1808-1_28
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1808-1_28
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
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