Master Cirrhosis Assessment with Picmonic for Nursing RN

In cirrhosis there is hepatic damage. The liver cells attempt to regenerate, but this process is unorganized. This results in abnormal architecture with irregular lobules that impede blood flow. This leads to decreased liver function in patients.

Jaundice occurs because the dysfunctional liver cells can no longer process bilirubin normally. As the body is unable to conjugate and excrete bilirubin, jaundice or yellowing of the skin, occurs.

The onset of cirrhosis is insidious, and an early symptom is fatigue. Patients may attribute this to other etiologies and might not be aware of their liver condition.

Palmar erythema is described as a red area of skin on the palms that blanches with pressure. This can also develop in cirrhotic patients as a result of increased estrogen.

As a result of increased circulating estrogen and an inability to metabolize steroid hormones, spider angiomas can develop. These are dilated blood vessels with a bright red center point and spider-like branches, which can occur on the trunk, neck, face, nose and shoulders.

Due to dysfunctional liver cell degeneration, the liver becomes enlarged and fibrosed. This leads to hypertension in the portal vein (going through the liver), which leads to increased venous pressure in organs feeding into the liver. This leads to splenomegaly as well. Additionally, patients with end-stage disease may present with a shunken, fibrotic, nodular liver.

Because the liver is producing less albumin, and there is more portal hypertension, fluid is squeezed out of the vasculature into tissues. This is displayed as peripheral edema (ankle, legs), but can also turn into ascites, which is the accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity.

Normally, the liver metabolizes hormones like estrogen. With cirrhosis, these hormones are not broken down as normal, and excess estrogen leads to gynecomastia in men.

Patients display a change in their level of consciousness, in a complication known as hepatic encephalopathy. Increased circulating ammonia leads to neurotoxic effects, and patients experience changes in mental responsiveness, impaired memory and consciousness, or even coma.