Question

A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver. For which classic signs of hepatic coma should the nurse assess this client?

A. Mental confusion
B. Increased cholesterol
C. Brown-colored stools
D. Flapping hand tremors
E. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes

Answer 1

The nurse should look for mental confusion and flapping hand tremors as classic signs of hepatic coma in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. These symptoms indicate hepatic encephalopathy, a severe complication of liver failure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The classic signs of hepatic coma a nurse should assess in a client with cirrhosis of the liver include mental confusion, and flapping hand tremors.

Hepatic coma, or encephalopathy, is a serious complication of liver failure and can present with symptoms such as disruptive memory loss, confusion, and difficulty with planning and executing tasks. In severe cases, it can lead to stupor and coma due to elevated ammonia levels in the blood, which are toxic to the central nervous system (CNS).

The liver's inability to detoxify the blood efficiently due to damage, as seen in cirrhosis, greatly contributes to the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

While increased cholesterol, brown-colored stools, and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes might be associated with liver conditions, they are not classic signs of hepatic coma.

Cirrhosis itself is characterized by the replacement of healthy liver tissue with fibrous scar tissue, leading to progressive loss of liver function. Treatment focuses on slowing progression and managing complications.

If cirrhosis advances significantly, liver transplant becomes the only viable option.

Answer 2

The classic signs of hepatic coma in a patient with cirrhosis of the liver that a nurse should assess include A. mental confusion and D. flapping hand tremors.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver may be at risk of hepatic encephalopathy, which includes symptoms of a reversible neuropsychiatric abnormality due to liver failure. Classic signs that a nurse should assess for in this context include: A. Mental confusion and D. Flapping hand tremors (also known as "asterixis").

These symptoms arise due to the liver's inability to effectively remove toxins such as ammonia from the blood, leading to what is sometimes called ammonia intoxication or hepatic coma. As cirrhosis progresses, it can cause complications such as ascites, but the other options mentioned, such as increased cholesterol, brown-colored stools, and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, are not classic signs of hepatic coma.