Objectives
The goal of this program is to provide nurses
and other healthcare professionals with information about liver
diseases. The program reviews functions of the normal liver and
outlines the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of liver diseases.
Upon completion of this course, you should be
able to:
- Describe the normal anatomy of the liver.
- Recognize the normal physiologic functions
of the liver, including its role in bile formation and
secretion, metabolism, vitamin storage, coagulation, and
detoxification.
- Discuss the pathophysiology, and diagnosis
of specific pathologic conditions that affect the liver,
including cirrhosis, hepatitis, carcinoma, Wilson's
disease, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, and intrahepatic
biliary dysplasia.
- Recognize complications of liver
decompensation, including, portal hypertension,
esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy, and ascites.
- State measures to prevent food-borne and
blood-borne hepatitis.