Hepatic / Biliary System
Hepatic / Biliary System
Liver, biliary, and pancreatic conditions, evidence, coding, and nursing diagnoses.
Major liver/biliary conditions
HBV
Hepatitis B (HBV): DNA virus transmitted sexually, perinatally, bloodborne. Acute: 95% adults clear. Chronic (HBsAg >6 months): cirrhosis/HCC risk. Effective vaccine available. Antivirals achieve viral suppression.
HCV
Hepatitis C (HCV): RNA virus, mainly bloodborne. 75-85% become chronic → cirrhosis → HCC. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) achieve >95% cure rates (SVR12). All chronic HCV patients should be treated.
NAFLD/NASH
NAFLD: fat in liver without significant alcohol use. NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis): NAFLD + inflammation/fibrosis. Leading cause of cirrhosis worldwide. Resmetirom FDA-approved 2024 for MASH.
ALF
ALF: rapid liver dysfunction (coagulopathy + encephalopathy) in patient without prior liver disease. Most common cause in US: acetaminophen overdose. N-acetylcysteine and liver transplant evaluation critical.
Cholecystitis
Acute cholecystitis: gallbladder inflammation from cystic duct obstruction by gallstone (95%) or acalculous (5%). Murphy sign: inspiratory arrest with RUQ palpation. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is treatment.
Related nursing diagnoses
Nursing Diagnoses & Care Plans
Open the NANDA tool to review nursing diagnoses and care-plan concepts related to liver/biliary conditions.