الفهرس 
Anatomy and physiology of the liverOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 161 |  |  |
| | | from | 161 | | |
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy is a term used to describe a broad range of neurologic and neuropsychiatric impairments seen in patients with significant underlying liver disease. During the course of the disorder, patients develop altered mental status with disorientation, inappropriate behavior, memory impairment, shortened attention span, slurred speech, confusion and eventually coma.
The hepatopulmonary syndrome is a pulmonary complication that occurs in patients with chronic liver disease and/or portal hypertension, whereby hypoxemia results from alterations in the pulmonary microvasculature, including vasodilatation and angiogenesis. It is an important cause of dyspnea and hypoxia in the setting of liver disease.
Hepatopulmonary syndrome is detected most readily by echocardiographic visualization of late-appearing bubbles in the left atrium following the injection of agitated saline. Patients can receive a diagnosis of the syndrome when their PaO2 is less than 80 mmHg.
Hepatorenal syndrome is a functional renal impairment that occurs in patients with advanced liver disease or severe fulminant liver injury. It is characterized by increased renal vasoconstriction, a reduced glomerular filtration rate, subsequent rise in creatinine, and impaired sodium and water excretion. Hepatorenal syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion, requiring documentation of reduced glomerular filtration rate along with an absence of other renal pathology.