Hepatic encephalopathy
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
GI / Liver / Pancreashigh priorityneeds review
Hepatic encephalopathy
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Liver cannot clear ammonia and other toxins.
- Toxins affect brain function causing confusion, lethargy, and coma risk.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lactulose | Promotes ammonia removal through stool. |
Signs / symptoms
- Asterixis, confusion, ammonia elevation.
- Lactulose causing stools is expected within ordered goal.
Nursing actions
- Assess orientation, asterixis, sleep pattern, and airway risk.
- Monitor stool goal, hydration, and electrolytes with lactulose.
- Prevent injury and treat precipitating factors such as infection or GI bleed.
Complications
- Aspiration
- Falls
- Coma
- Cerebral edema in severe cases
NCLEX cues
- Asterixis, confusion, ammonia elevation.
- Lactulose causing stools is expected within ordered goal.
Memory hooks
- Ammonia clouds the brain; lactulose moves it out.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.
Review notes
- Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.
Cross references
Related cards are generated from the shared study map, not hand-built per page.
Source entitycondition card
Hepatic encephalopathy
Condition card for Hepatic encephalopathy: recognize the testable cue, prevent the complication, and choose the safest first nursing action.
Med classmedication safety
Lactulose
Traps ammonia in the gut and promotes stooling so ammonia levels and confusion can improve.