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The Critically Ill Cirrhotic Patient pp 91–104Cite as

Intensive Care Management of Patients with Cirrhosis

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Abstract

Patients with cirrhosis are at high risk of disease-associated complications. Hospitalized patients often present with multisystem organ dysfunction and failure and the need for intensive care unit support. Patients with cirrhosis presenting to the intensive care unit have high mortality rates approaching 50%. Common complications of cirrhosis that are present in the intensive care unit include abnormalities in neurological function, pulmonary and cardiovascular function, and disorders of hemostasis. Prompt identification of potential inciting events and aggressive supportive care is imperative to ensure the best outcome for this patient population. Prognosis is guided by the response of failing organ systems to supportive care. The definitive treatment of the complications associated with advanced liver disease remains liver transplantation, where demand outpaces organ availability.

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  1. Departments of Internal Medicine and Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

    Jody C. Olson

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Correspondence to Jody C. Olson .

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  1. Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Robert S. Rahimi

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Olson, J.C. (2020). Intensive Care Management of Patients with Cirrhosis. In: Rahimi, R. (eds) The Critically Ill Cirrhotic Patient. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24490-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24490-3_6

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