Efficacy of lactulose in the prophylaxis of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients presenting gastrointestinal bleeding / Eficácia da lactulose na profilaxia de encefalopatia hepática em pacientes cirróticos apresentando hemorragia digestiva

SUMMARY Introduction: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a bad prognostic factor in patients with liver cirrhosis and its incidence is associated with several triggering factors being the most prevalent gastrointestinal bleeding. Lactulose, despite its questionable efficacy in the literature, is considered a first line treatment in patients with HE. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of lactulose in preventing HE in cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Method: A systematic review of the literature using the Medline scientific database. Only randomized controlled clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of lactulose for HE prophylaxis in cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding were included. Results: The incidence of HE in the intervention group was 7%, while the control group was 26% (p=0.01). There was no significant difference in the incidence of mortality in the group treated with lactulose compared to the group that was not treated (p=0.48). Conclusion: Administering lactulose to cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding reduces the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy.

RSUMO Introdução: encefalopatia hepática (EH) é fator de mau prognóstico no paciente com cirrose hepática e sua incidência está associada a vários fatores desencadeantes, sendo a hemorragia digestiva o mais prevalente. A lactulose, apesar de apresentar eficácia discutível na literatura, é considerada tratamento de primeira linha em pacientes com EH. Objetivo: avaliar a eficácia da lactulose na prevenção de EH em pacientes cirróticos apresentando hemorragia digestiva. Método: realizou-se revisão sistemática da literatura pela base de dados Medline. Foram incluídos apenas ensaios clínicos controlados e randomizados que avaliaram a eficácia da lactulose na profilaxia de EH em pacientes cirróticos com hemorragia digestiva. Resultados: a incidência de EH no grupo intervenção foi de 7% enquanto no grupo controle foi de 26% (p=0,01). Não houve diferença significante na incidência de mortalidade entre o grupo que recebeu lactulose e o que não recebeu (p=0,48). Conclusão: a administração de lactulose em pacientes cirróticos apresentando hemorragia digestiva alta diminui a incidência de encefalopatia hepática.

Precipitating factors and the outcome of hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis

To determine precipitants of hepatic encephalopathy [HE] and their impact on hospital stay and mortality. Cross-sectional, analytical study. The Aga Khan University Hospital, from January 2005 to December 2007. Consecutive patients admitted with different grades of HE were evaluated between January 2005 and December 2007. The precipitants of HE were correlated with the different grades of HE, and length of hospital stay and mortality. Chi-square test was used to compare the proportion of precipitating factors versus hospital stay and grade with significance at p < 0.05. Of the 404 patients 252 [62%] were males. Hepatitis C virus was the cause of cirrhosis in 283 [70%]; Child Turcotte Pugh [CTP] class C was present in 317 [78%] patients. On presentation, 17% patients had grade 1 HE while 44%, 29% and 10% had grades 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The most common precipitant of HE was spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in 83 [20.5%], constipation in 74 [18.3%] and urinary tract infection in 62 [15.3%]. One hundred and forty [35%] patients had >/= 2 precipitating factors while no precipitant was noted in 50 [12%] patients. Mean hospital stay was 4 +/- 3 days. The lesser the number of precipitants, shorter was the length of stay [p < 0.01] and lesser was the grade of HE [p=0.025]. Complete reversal of HE was noted in 366 patients [91%] while the remaining had grade 1 HE on discharge. Nine [2.2%] patients died during the hospital stay. No mortality was noted in patients without precipitants. Patients presenting with >/= 2 precipitating factors and advanced grade of HE had a prolonged hospital stay. Moreover, patients without precipitants had better outcomes

Maternal mortality: a 10-year study at Nishtar-Hospital Multan

To analyse causes of maternal deaths and to identify preventable causes leading to this tragedy in our setup. An analytical, hospital-based study. Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Nishter Hospital Multan from June-August 2005. During the study period retrospective data was collected for period of 10 year from January 1995 to December 2004. This data was analyzed in order to determine the Maternal Mortality Rate [MMR], causes of death and characteristics of the mothers who died including her age, parity and whether they were booked or unbooked. A total numbers of 30031 deliveries took place during the study period and there were 178 maternal deaths with maternal mortality rate of 593/100,000 LB [live births]. 7[3.9%] patients were below the age of 20, 74[41.5%] were in the age group of 21-30 and 82[46%] in 31-40 years age range. 15[8.42%] were above the age of 40. Most of them [69%] were grand multiparas [Parity >5]. The major causative factors were haemorrhage 63[35.4%], eclampsia 41[23.03%], sepsis 25[14.04%], anaemia 18[10.1%], hepatic encephalopathy 14[7.9%], abortion 11[6.2%]. Majority of the patients were unbooked and presented in the hospital very late. A high proportion of potentially preventable maternal deaths indicate the need for improvements in education for both patient and health care provider. The provision of skilled care and timely management of complications can lower maternal mortality in our setup

Insuficiencia hepática fulminante asociada a hepatitis virales: diagnóstico y manejo / Fulminant hepatic failure associated with viral hepatitis: diagnosis and management

La insuficiencia hepática fulminante (IHF) es una condición potencialmente fatal, que se caracteriza por un rápido deterioro de la función hepática y aparición de encefalopatía en un período de tiempo relativamente corto, trayendo como consecuencia un síndrome de falla multiorgánica, el cual acarrea una alta mortalidad. Este síndrome puede ser producido por una gran variedad de causas, siendo los virus hepatotrópicos (A,B,C,D,E,G y noA,noG) responsables del mismo en la mayoría de los casos. Cada uno de estos virus tiene sus particularidades en cuanto a forma de aparición, mecanismo de daño hepático, factores de riesgo y pronóstico. Los "Criterios del King's College" proveen la mejor forma de establecer el pronóstico de cada paciente en particular. Las complicaciones de la IHF son múltiples e incluyen: encefalopatía edema cerebral, coagulopatía, insuficiencia renal, sepsis y desequibrio hidroelectrolítico y ácido-base. El tratamiento apropiado de las mismas en el contexto de una unidad de cuidados intensivos, permite sostener la vida del paciente mientras la función hepática se recupera espontáneamente o el paciente recibe un transplante hepático

Análisis de supervivencia en pacientes cirróticos / Analysis of the survival rate in cirrhotic patients

Antecedentes: La cirrosis hepática (CH) es una enfermedad crónica y progresiva, que favorece la presencia de algunas complicaciones idependientes de su causa y que disminuyen la supervivencia de los pacientes. Objetivos: Determinar la frecuencia, la causa, los principales factores de descompensación y analizar las curvas de supervivencia en CH en una población de Durango, México. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes de uno u otro sexo con diagnóstico de cirrosis hepática del Hospital General del IMSS de Durango, Méx. Se determinó su causa factores de descompensación y grado de hipertensión portal (HTP). Se realizó un seguimiento de 39 meses, registrándose las complicaciones y causas de muerte. Análisis estadístico: Prueba exacta de Fischer, ANOVA de Friedman, chicuadrada de Mantel-Haenzsel y curvas de Kaplan-Meier. Resultados: Se estudiaron 50 pacientes, 30 del sexo femenino y 20 del masculino, edad promedio de 54.3 años (32-74). La causa más frecuente fue la alcohólica (42 por ciento) en 19 hombres y dos mujeres. El 86 por ciento tenían descompensación por ascitis; hemorragia por várices 38 por ciento, encefalopatía 36 por ciento e ictericia 32 por ciento. El 52 por ciento tenía HTP III y 60 por ciento clase B de Child-Pugh. Conclusiones: La supervivencia en el grupo descompensado fue de 62 por ciento y en el grupo total de 73 por ciento y falleció 20 por ciento. Existió relación entre el grado de HTP y la clase funcional de Chil-Pugh (p< 0.05); a menor reserva hepática, mayor probabilidad de hemorragia (p < 0.05) y encefalopatía (p < 0.01); el mayor grado de HTP se relacionó como hemorragia, encefalopatía y muerte (p< 0.05), y no se encontró relación entre la causa y la presencia de complicaciones.

Encefalopatía hepática

Mental deterioration in patients with fulminant hepatitis is a poor prognosis sign. Patients in stages III or IV with stupor or coma have cerebral edema. The increase in cerebral fluid eventually leads to endocraneal hypertension. Brain edema is not the cause of encephalopathy, only when the structures are displaced or intracraneal pressure increases, pupilary abnormalities, abnormal caloric reflexes and myoclonic seizures appears. Significant elevation of intracraneal pressure can be asymptomatic leading to temporal lobe herniation and death. Liver transplantation has changed the prognosis, and subdural and epidural monitoring has been developed in order to evaluate this problem optimally. Monitoring of cerebral perfusion pressure (mean arterial pressure - endocraneal pressure) to assess brain flow is essential. Values of less than 40mmHg imply cerebral ischemia. In patients with cirrhosis encephalopathy has several stages, and sleep disturbances can present very early. Asterixis is a sensible but not specific sign and the classic "faetor hepaticus" is not frequent. Most of the time a precipitating factor can be identified: gastrointestinal bleeding, sedatives, iuremia, infections, constipation, high protein intake and hypokalemia, chronic porto-systemic encephalopathy is mainly related to spontaneous porto-systemic collaterals or surgically created shunts. The most important pathogenetic factors are: ammonia, glutamate, increase cerebral serotonine, increase GABA tone and recently the presence of endogenous benzodiazepines. New therapeutic modalities included the administration of flumazenil, vegetable protein, lactulose and sodium benzoate...