Further Inpatient Care
With few exceptions, patients presenting with cardiac cirrhosis and acute heart failure symptoms require hospital admission. This is particularly true in the initial presentation of heart failure.
Admission also is indicated when chronic symptoms become refractory to outpatient therapy and large doses of oral diuretics do not provide adequate diuresis.
Consider initial admission to a telemetry unit for continuous ECG monitoring.
Transfer
Consider initial transfer to a telemetry ward for continuous ECG monitoring with new presentations of cardiac cirrhosis.
Transfer to a tertiary care facility may be warranted for surgical treatment of the following:
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Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease - Either with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery bypass surgery
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Severe valvular disease
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Constrictive pericarditis
Deterrence/Prevention
The patient may prevent hospitalization for heart failure by enrolling in a heart failure clinic or agreeing to frequent brief physician visits for any of the following:
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Reinforcing recognition of early heart failure symptoms
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Close following of daily weight log
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Encouraging adherence to a low-sodium diet
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Reviewing medical compliance
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Drug interactions
Complications
Possible complications include acute renal failure secondary to overdiuresis.
Prognosis
The independent effect of cardiac cirrhosis on morbidity or mortality rate is unknown. Prognosis is based on the patient's underlying heart failure condition.
Patient Education
Additional patient information may be found at Heart Failure Online and Health Central.
For patient education resources, see the Heart Health Center, as well as Congestive Heart Failure.
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Cardiac cirrhosis and congestive hepatopathy. Congestive hepatopathy with large renal vein.
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Cardiac cirrhosis and congestive hepatopathy. Congestive hepatopathy with large inferior vena cava.
