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IPLab:Lab 12:Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Revision as of 21:10, 9 July 2020 by Peter Anderson (talk | contribs) (Clinical Summary)
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Clinical SummaryEdit

This 56-year-old white male came to the emergency room because of weakness, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, abdominal distention, and an altered mental status. He was a known to have alcohol use disorder and he drank approximately one pint of whiskey per day. Physical examination revealed a protuberant abdomen, bilateral gynecomastia, and spider angiomata on his chest. Liver enzymes were elevated, albumin was low and he was anemic.

The patient was given thiamine, folate, multivitamins, and vitamin K and an intravenous line was placed to infuse 5% dextrose. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) demonstrated large esophageal varices. Two days after admission the patient developed a massive hematemesis due to rupture of an esophageal varices and despite successful sclerotherapy and supportive transfusions, the patient died the next day.

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Additional ResourcesEdit

Related IPLab CasesEdit

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Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood.

Nodular hyperplasia of the prostate--characterized by large discrete prostatic nodules--is a common disorder in men over 50 years of age. The nodules cause the prostate to be enlarged and to have an increased weight. The human prostate is surrounded by a restrictive capsule. These nodules cause increased pressure within the capsule which leads to constriction of the urethra as it passes through the prostate. Urethral constriction leads to retention of urine.

Cirrhosis is a liver disease characterized by necrosis, fibrosis, loss of normal liver architecture, and hyperplastic nodules.