BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCirrhosis - dischargeLiver failure - discharge; Liver cirrhosis - dischargeCirrhosis is scarring of the liver that often eventually causes poor liver function. It is the most advanced stage of chronic liver disease. You were in the hospital to treat this condition.CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article When You're in the HospitalYou have cirrhosis of the liver. Scar tissue forms and your liver gets smaller and harder. Most of the time, this damage cannot be undone. However, the problems it causes can be treated.While you were in the hospital, you may have had:Lab tests, x-rays, and other imaging exams A sample of liver tissue taken (biopsy) Treatment with medicines Fluid (ascites) drained from your belly AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Tiny rubber bands tied around abnormal blood vessels in your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach) called esophageal varices Placement of a tube or shunt (TIPS or TIPSS) to help prevent too much fluid in your belly TIPS or TIPSSTransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to create new connections between two blood vessels in your liver. You may need ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Antibiotics to treat or prevent infection in the fluid in your bellyWhat to Expect at HomeYour health care provider will talk with you about what to expect at home. This will depend on your symptoms and what caused your cirrhosis.Medicines you may need to take include:Lactulose, neomycin, or rifaximin for confusion caused by liver problems (hepatic encephalopathy) Medicines to help prevent bleeding from your swallowing tube or esophagus (from enlarged veins called varices) EsophagusThe esophagus (food pipe) is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Varices are enlarged veins that may be found in the esophagus in pe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Water pills, to get rid of extra fluid in your body (ascites) Antibiotics, for infection in your belly (bacterial peritonitis)Self-careDo not drink any alcohol. Your provider can help you stop drinking. Stop drinkingThere are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Limit salt in your diet.Ask your provider which foods you should avoid. Your provider or nutritionist can give you a low-salt diet. Low-salt dietToo much sodium in your diet can be bad for you. If you have high blood pressure or heart failure, you may be asked to limit the amount of salt (whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Learn to read labels on cans and packaged foods to avoid salt. Read labelsA key step for losing weight, keeping the weight off, and staying healthy is learning how to buy the right foods at the store. This will ensure you ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Do not add salt to your foods or use it in cooking. Use herbs or spices to add flavor to your foods. Ask your provider before taking any other medicines, vitamins, herbs, or supplements that you buy at the store. This includes acetaminophen (Tylenol), cold medicines, aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and others. In general, you can take acetaminophen in doses up to 1.5 grams a day (for example, one 500 mg pill up to 3 times a day). NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and similar are not recommended in cirrhosis because they can hurt the kidneys . Watch out for medicines that contain acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) in combination, such as some cold medicines).Ask if you need vaccines to prevent hepatitis A, hepatitis B, lung or bodily infections due to specific bacteria such as pneumococcus, the flu and COVID-19.You will need to see your provider for regular follow-up visits. Make sure you go to these visits so your condition can be checked. It is much easier to prevent problems than to treat them after they happen.Other tips for caring for your liver are:Eat a healthy diet. Keep your weight at a healthy level. Some people with cirrhosis start to lose muscle and in these situations it is very important to keep up your protein intake . Discuss this possibility with your provider. Try to avoid becoming constipated. Get enough exercise and rest. Try to reduce your stress. When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you have:Fever above 100.5°F (38°C), or a fever that does not go away FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Belly pain Blood in your stool or black, tarry stools Black, tarry stoolsBlack or tarry stools with a foul smell are a sign of a problem in the upper digestive tract. It most often indicates that there is bleeding in the ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood in your vomit Blood in your vomitVomiting blood is regurgitating (throwing up) contents of the stomach that contains blood. Vomited blood may appear bright red, dark red, or look lik...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bruising or bleeding more easily A buildup of fluid in your belly Swollen legs or ankles Breathing problems Breathing problemsBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article Confusion or problems staying awake Yellow color to your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesGarcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequelae. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 139.Kamath PS, Shah VH. Overview of cirrhosis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 74.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Cirrhosis(Condition)Bleeding esophageal varices(Condition)Alcoholic liver disease(Condition)Primary biliary cholangitis(Condition)Alcohol use disorder(Condition)Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)(Surgery)How to read food labels(Self-Care)Low-salt diet (Self-Care)Cirrhosis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 2/3/2025 Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Gastroenterologist, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Cirrhosis - dischargeLiver failure - discharge; Liver cirrhosis - dischargeCirrhosis is scarring of the liver that often eventually causes poor liver function. It is the most advanced stage of chronic liver disease. You were in the hospital to treat this condition.CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article When You're in the HospitalYou have cirrhosis of the liver. Scar tissue forms and your liver gets smaller and harder. Most of the time, this damage cannot be undone. However, the problems it causes can be treated.While you were in the hospital, you may have had:Lab tests, x-rays, and other imaging exams A sample of liver tissue taken (biopsy) Treatment with medicines Fluid (ascites) drained from your belly AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Tiny rubber bands tied around abnormal blood vessels in your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach) called esophageal varices Placement of a tube or shunt (TIPS or TIPSS) to help prevent too much fluid in your belly TIPS or TIPSSTransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to create new connections between two blood vessels in your liver. You may need ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Antibiotics to treat or prevent infection in the fluid in your bellyWhat to Expect at HomeYour health care provider will talk with you about what to expect at home. This will depend on your symptoms and what caused your cirrhosis.Medicines you may need to take include:Lactulose, neomycin, or rifaximin for confusion caused by liver problems (hepatic encephalopathy) Medicines to help prevent bleeding from your swallowing tube or esophagus (from enlarged veins called varices) EsophagusThe esophagus (food pipe) is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Varices are enlarged veins that may be found in the esophagus in pe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Water pills, to get rid of extra fluid in your body (ascites) Antibiotics, for infection in your belly (bacterial peritonitis)Self-careDo not drink any alcohol. Your provider can help you stop drinking. Stop drinkingThere are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Limit salt in your diet.Ask your provider which foods you should avoid. Your provider or nutritionist can give you a low-salt diet. Low-salt dietToo much sodium in your diet can be bad for you. If you have high blood pressure or heart failure, you may be asked to limit the amount of salt (whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Learn to read labels on cans and packaged foods to avoid salt. Read labelsA key step for losing weight, keeping the weight off, and staying healthy is learning how to buy the right foods at the store. This will ensure you ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Do not add salt to your foods or use it in cooking. Use herbs or spices to add flavor to your foods. Ask your provider before taking any other medicines, vitamins, herbs, or supplements that you buy at the store. This includes acetaminophen (Tylenol), cold medicines, aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and others. In general, you can take acetaminophen in doses up to 1.5 grams a day (for example, one 500 mg pill up to 3 times a day). NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and similar are not recommended in cirrhosis because they can hurt the kidneys . Watch out for medicines that contain acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) in combination, such as some cold medicines).Ask if you need vaccines to prevent hepatitis A, hepatitis B, lung or bodily infections due to specific bacteria such as pneumococcus, the flu and COVID-19.You will need to see your provider for regular follow-up visits. Make sure you go to these visits so your condition can be checked. It is much easier to prevent problems than to treat them after they happen.Other tips for caring for your liver are:Eat a healthy diet. Keep your weight at a healthy level. Some people with cirrhosis start to lose muscle and in these situations it is very important to keep up your protein intake . Discuss this possibility with your provider. Try to avoid becoming constipated. Get enough exercise and rest. Try to reduce your stress. When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you have:Fever above 100.5°F (38°C), or a fever that does not go away FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Belly pain Blood in your stool or black, tarry stools Black, tarry stoolsBlack or tarry stools with a foul smell are a sign of a problem in the upper digestive tract. It most often indicates that there is bleeding in the ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood in your vomit Blood in your vomitVomiting blood is regurgitating (throwing up) contents of the stomach that contains blood. Vomited blood may appear bright red, dark red, or look lik...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bruising or bleeding more easily A buildup of fluid in your belly Swollen legs or ankles Breathing problems Breathing problemsBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article Confusion or problems staying awake Yellow color to your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesGarcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequelae. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 139.Kamath PS, Shah VH. Overview of cirrhosis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 74.
