Cirrhosis and the Liver

1. Cirrhosis is defined as the replacement of normal liver tissue by scar tissue and other regenerative tissue that blocks the flow of blood through the hepatic portal vein, and hepatic arteries to the organ. This inhibits its functions of detoxification, glycogen storage, apotosis, hormone production, plasma protein synthesis, and it's role in metabolism. Cirrhosis has a long list of complications that can arise, including: Immune system dysfunction, fluid in the abdomen, acute renal failure, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portalpulmonary hypertension, and many more that are almost all directly caused by insufficient blood flow related to the formation of the scar tissue slowing down or blocking normal vascular channels into and out of the liver.

Treatment is used to stop or delay progression of this disease, and reduce complications as liver damage generally cannot be reversed. Before treatment of the condition starts it is important to treat the underlying causes, which for alcoholic cirrhosis would be removing the person from alcohol. An improvement of the diet is also crucial, especially focusing on limiting salt intake. At this point treatment generally involves treating any complications that arise such as: excess abdominal fluid, infections, coagulation issues, etc. As a last resort transplantation can be considered.

2. Dialysis is used as an artificial replacement for the kidneys function of removing waste and excess water/salt from the blood, and is used for those in renal failure or other disturbances in kidney function. Five different types of dialysis exist: Hemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, Hemofiltration, Hemodiafiltration (a combination of hemodialysis and hemofiltration) and Intestinal dialysis

In Hemodialysis, an entrance into a major blood vessel is created and blood is pumped into a compartment with a semipermeable membrane containing dialysate that removes wastes and extra fluid. The clean blood is then returned to the body. Hemodialysis...