Liver cirrhosis is a serious disease that requires serious treatment. Of course, that sounds like a sentence. But it is important to know that many of the causes of this difficult disease can be treated and controlled. The most important thing, as in any disease, is to recognize its signs in time, consult a doctor immediately and preserve health and life. And even better, take all preventive measures so as not to wait for the last stage of liver cirrhosis, in which there is practically no chance to survive.
Liver function
Why do we need it and what functions does it perform? The liver is an organ that performs a very responsible function of cleansing the body of toxins, takes an active part in the synthesis of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, promotes normal digestion and the production of substances necessary for the body. Cirrhosis is a consequence of various chronic liver diseases - the organ grows in size, thickens and becomes scarred, and the contours become rough and bumpy. Liver cells (hepatocytes) can no longer cope with their function. Pathological damage in the cells of the body becomes irreversible, harmful toxic substances enter the bloodstream, causing intoxication and creating a serious threat to the life of the body. If the right actions are not taken in time, liver failure develops, and, according to statistics, at the 2-4th year of the disease, the last stage of liver cirrhosis and death.
Causes of liver cirrhosis
Hepatitis viruses are most often the root cause of liver damage, among which hepatitis C is the most dangerous, since it threatens the development of cirrhosis in almost 97% of cases. Fortunately, hepatitis is now treating well. As well as the frequent and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, which, in fact, poison both the liver and the whole body - up to 50% of cases of cirrhosis develop due to alcohol abuse. Often, the disease proceeds almost imperceptibly, asymptomatically - this is especially characteristic of the male body. The medicinal type of the disease occurs due to the effects of certain drugs as a result of prolonged use. Heavy medications for the treatment of tuberculosis, cancer, and some antiseptics with prolonged use have a particularly negative effect on the liver.
Congenital form
There is also a congenital form of the disease - as a result of certain genetic pathologies. With problems with the heart and insufficient blood circulation, with prolonged venous congestion in the liver, it is possible to diagnose manifestations of the pathology, its stagnant form. Photos of people at the last stage of liver cirrhosis are presented below.
There is also the so-called cryptogenic form of the disease. This type is characterized by the absence of objective reasons, that is, according to the results of a comprehensive examination, they do not find the causes that caused the disease. This type of liver cirrhosis is more common in women.
Also, under unfavorable conditions for the body, cirrhosis can lead to:
- poisoning by poisonous mushrooms or a substitute for alcohol ;
- stones, cysts in the biliary tract;
- metabolic disorders, with diabetes, obesity;
- helminthic invasions in the liver;
- phenomena of chronic heart failure, etc.
How the last stage of liver cirrhosis manifests itself, we will describe below.
Early signs of the disease
But this terrible ailment can be diagnosed in the initial stages, listening to the signals of the body.
Symptoms that should alert:
- Periodic pain in the right hypochondrium, intensifying after physical exertion or after heavy, fatty and fried foods, alcoholic beverages, and pains can go away on their own, analgesics do not help.
- In the morning, dry mouth, a feeling of bitterness.
- Frequent stool disorders, flatulence.
- Weight loss, irritability, fatigue.
- It happens that the disease shows icteric symptoms in the early stages of development.
In rare cases, the disease develops sharply, with no noticeable early signs.
Symptoms of pathology
The symptomatology of the disease is quite diverse. What is it manifested in? First of all, dull, but constantly increasing pain in the abdomen, in the right hypochondrium, which subsequently becomes unbearable, indicates cirrhosis of the liver, and even narcotic drugs are prescribed to the patient as anesthetic. Also, the symptoms of the disease are digestive upset (heaviness in the abdomen, flatulence, nausea and vomiting), rapid saturation with a small portion of food, sometimes symptoms such as skin itching, a slight increase in body temperature, nosebleeds.
With the further development of the disease, the most characteristic symptoms corresponding to this disease are manifested:
- yellowing of the skin and eye proteins is detected, which indicates an increased content of bilirubin in the blood;
- varicose bleeding, bruising, bruising, decreased blood clotting;
- weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite and even its complete loss;
- ascites in the last stage of liver cirrhosis in men and women (increase in fluid volume in the peritoneal cavity).
Stages of liver cirrhosis
There are three main stages of the development of the disease:
When there are no pronounced symptoms, but there is a process of necrosis of the liver cells, and the rest of the cells have to work in an enhanced mode.
Here the first signs are already showing up: weakness, nausea, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, pain in the right hypochondrium, decreased appetite. Venous "nets" appear on the skin; hair may fall out.
- The last stage of cirrhosis is decompensation.
It is characterized by the appearance of complications such as ascites, icteric signs, various kinds of bleeding, atrophy of the muscles of the limbs and upper shoulder girdle.
Symptoms of the last stage of cirrhosis are frightening.
How is the last stage of the disease manifested?
We will examine in more detail in this matter. The liver is compressed and can no longer cope with its functions - liver failure is increasing. Further complications develop - ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, cancer. Often, internal bleeding occurs and a hepatic coma develops, which leads to death.
Patients at this stage have characteristic signs:
- pale yellow flabby skin and yellow eyeballs;
- on the skin of the face and body, red and purple vascular "spiders", the venous network on the abdomen is especially noticeable;
- exhausted arms and legs, bruises on the limbs;
- a greatly enlarged abdomen with a prominent navel;
- on the palms, red skin (erythema) with thickened phalanges and characteristic dull nails (“watch glasses”);
- swollen legs.
Symptoms of the last stage of liver cirrhosis in men and women do not differ much.
Other manifestations are possible: speech disorder, uncharacteristic, angular movements of body parts, sudden mood swings, increased excitability is replaced by drowsiness. The patient needs immediate hospitalization.
Treatment at this stage continues, but is already ineffective. All therapeutic procedures are aimed at maintaining the functioning of the patient's body.
We will figure out how much they live with cirrhosis of the liver in the last stage.
Life forecasts
The life expectancy of patients with such a diagnosis depends on the root cause of the disease, the stage at which it was diagnosed, and complications that could appear at the beginning of treatment . The statistics, unfortunately, are disappointing. The survival rate for cirrhosis of the last degree is as follows: only 10-40% of patients will be able to live only 3 years, and if hepatic coma develops, it is almost a 100% fatal outcome. But it’s important to understand that statistics are always averaged. The following factors influence the prognosis for life:
- age and physical condition of the patient;
- the presence of infections;
- whether there were complications in the form of ascites, bleeding, hepatic coma, cancer;
- Compliance with the recommendations received from doctors;
- a lot depends on the effectiveness of the treatment or its absence;
- individual tolerance to drugs;
- psychological attitude of the patient.
Of course, cirrhosis is a serious illness that brings suffering to both the patient and his family. Close it is very important to maintain the "fighting" spirit of the patient and optimism, despite the hardships. If a liver transplant is not performed (and this is not accessible to everyone), then within 3 years the patient usually dies. However, it is important to continue the prescribed treatment at the last stage of liver cirrhosis (photo presented). Thus, it is possible to minimize the symptoms of the disease and prolong life.
Organ transplantation
So, it is impossible to cure an ailment. Doctors prescribed treatment can only support the functioning of the body and try to extend the life of the patient. There is a chance to defeat cirrhosis - a liver transplant. However, such an operation is not shown to everyone. Most patients, even with transplantation, have a very poor prognosis for life. But refusal of hospitalization, violation of the regime and failure to comply with the appointments recommended by the doctor, significantly reduce life expectancy.
Preventive actions
What is meant by this? Prevention of cirrhosis comes down to eliminating the effects of factors that cause this ailment. So, for example, prevention consists in a complete refusal or restriction of alcohol consumption, timely diagnosis and treatment of diseases leading to the development of cirrhosis. It is also very important to have a healthy and nutritious diet and the elimination of toxic substances from food, water balance and an active lifestyle. And you need to monitor blood pressure and weight.
We examined how the last stage of cirrhosis and photos of patients proceed.