NURS 2090 Lecture Notes - Diarrhea, Liver Function Tests, Polyhydramnios
16 Apr 2013
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Document Summary
Clinical models of altered fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance. Pathophysiology - altered fluid balance due to reduced local blood flow. The diseases that lead to cirrhosis do so because they injure and kill liver cells, and the inflammation and repair that is associated with the dying liver cells causes scar tissue to form. The liver cells that do not die multiply in an attempt to replace the cells that have died. This results in clusters of newly-formed liver cells (regenerative nodules) within the scar tissue. Normally, blood from the intestines and spleen is pumped to the liver through the portal vein. However, cirrhosis blocks the normal flow of blood through the liver. This can lead to swelling of the liver. Blood from the intestines, is then forced to find a new way around the liver through new vessels. Some of these new blood vessels called varices which form primarily in the stomach and esophagus become quite large.
