What should I do after having cirrhosis for 20 years?
Nov 08, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Gao Jun
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, a diagnosis of cirrhosis lasting 20 years indicates that the patient's liver function has remained in the compensated stage over a long period due to effective disease control. For patients who have had cirrhosis for 20 years, treatment options to improve their condition may generally include standard medical management, oral hepatoprotective medications, oral antiviral drugs, interventional therapies, and liver transplantation. Patients with cirrhosis of 20 years duration should select appropriate treatment approaches based on their specific clinical presentation and disease status.
Generally, "cirrhosis for 20 years" refers to cirrhotic patients who have effectively controlled their condition over a long period, resulting in the liver remaining in a compensated phase. Patients who have had cirrhosis for 20 years can usually improve through general treatment, oral liver-protecting medications, oral antiviral drugs, interventional treatments, liver transplantation, and other approaches. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. General Treatment: Patients with cirrhosis need to maintain adequate sleep and avoid staying up late to reduce the burden on the liver. At the same time, alcohol consumption should be stopped to prevent further damage to the liver from alcohol.
2. Oral Liver-Protecting Medications: If a patient's liver function has sustained some damage, liver-protecting drugs such as compound glycyrrhizin tablets or hepatoprotective pills may be used under a doctor's instructions.
3. Oral Antiviral Medications: As the disease progresses, antiviral drugs such as entecavir tablets or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablets may be prescribed by a doctor to inhibit hepatitis B virus replication and slow the progression of cirrhosis.
4. Interventional Therapy: Vascular stent implantation is an interventional treatment suitable for patients with portal hypertension. By inserting a metal stent into the hepatic artery at a regular hospital, blood supply to the liver can be restored and symptoms such as ascites can be alleviated.
5. Liver Transplantation: Liver transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage cirrhosis. For patients with cirrhosis complicated by severe liver failure, refractory ascites, or hepatic encephalopathy, liver transplantation can significantly improve quality of life and prolong survival. However, this approach must be performed at a regular hospital.
Patients who have had cirrhosis for 20 years should choose an appropriate treatment based on their specific condition and undergo standardized treatment under the guidance of a specialist. At the same time, maintaining good lifestyle and dietary habits is essential.
