Porto-systemic encephalopathy [PSE]; study to evaluate common precipitating factors in patients with chronic liver disease

ABSTRACT

Porto-systemic encephalopathy [PSE] is a common medical emergency at our settings due to increased prevalence of chronic liver disease. To determine frequency of common precipitating factors in patients having porto-systemic encephalopathy [PSE] at tertiary care settings in Hyderabad. Descriptive case series study. Setting: Department of Medicine Isra University Hospital Hyderabad. Period 1st April 2011 to 31st December 2011. A total 100 patients manifesting clinical features of PSE were included in this study by non-probability convenience sampling. The data was evaluated in statistical program SPSS version 16. As 100 patients with PSE were enrolled in the current study, out of these 96 patients have precipitating factors involved while only 4 patients have no such factors. Out of these 96 patients, 36 patients have only single risk factor found while in 64 cases multiple factors were implicated. Constipation, infections [except SBP] and renal impairment were noted in 36%, 24% and 22% respectively. Constipation, infections [except SBP] and renal impairment were the most common precipitating factors of porto-systemic encephalopathy in our study. Hence priority should be given to them in terms of hospital funds, medicines and human efforts