Liver diseases: admissions and mortality in a medical ICU at a rural centre in Pakistan

ABSTRACT

To study the frequency of admissions, complications and death rates in patients with chronic liver disease [CLD] in a rural medical Intensive Care Unit [ICU]. Retrospective analysis of 174 consecutive admissions. Out of 174 consecutive admissions, 69 patients [40%] had background liver disease. However, 55 patients out of this total [32%] were admitted directly in ICU because of the features of complications of their liver disease. Twenty six out of fifty five [47%] died. Thirteen out of twenty six had signs of encephalopathy. Seven out of fifty five had more than one complications of liver disease-only one of them survived. Hepatitis C was the cause of liver-related deaths in 18/26 [69%]. CLD is the commonest cause of admissions [32%] in medical ICU-Hepatitis C being responsible for 69%. Liver disease and its complications were also the commonest cause of all deaths in medical ICU, of which Hepatitis C contributed 69%. Encephalopathy was the most common manifested complication of cirrhosis, causing highest mortality