Liver Function Child-Pugh Classification Research Articles

Clinical evaluation of percutaneous endovascular radiofrequency ablation for portal vein tumor thrombus: experience in 120 patients.

Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) secondary to primary liver carcinoma (PLC) is commonly associated with poor prognosis and poses great challenge. This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous endovascular radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of PVTT. Consecutive patients who were performed endovascular RFA because of PVTT in single-institution in recent 8years were retrospectively reviewed, compared with patients who underwent only sequential transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) during the contemporary period. Patency of portal vein, complications, and overall survival (OS) were investigated. One hundred and 20 patients who underwent endovascular RFA and 96 patients who underwent only sequential TACE were included. No severe complications happened in both groups. Except the higher rates of severe fever and moderate pain in the study group, no difference was found in the incidence of side effects and complications. The effective rate in the study group was (78.3%, 94/120) significantly higher than the comparison group (35.4%, 34/96). The median survival time and 1-3years cumulative survival rates in the study group were 15.7months and 42.5%, 21.7%, 2.5%, respectively, and 11.3months, 21.9%, 9.4%, 0 correspondingly in the comparison group, without significant difference. Type of PVTT and Child-Pugh classification of liver function were independent risk factors, and OS was significantly improved by endovascular RFA and subsequent therapy. Endovascular RFA is technically safe and feasible for unresectable PLC and PVTT to improve the prognosis and quality of life.

Effect of Humanistic Nursing Care on Relieving Generalized Pain and Negative Emotions in Patients with Advanced Liver Cancer Complicated with Respiratory Failure

To investigate the effect of humanistic nursing care on relieving generalized pain and negative emotions in patients with advanced liver cancer complicated with respiratory failure. 80 patients with advanced liver cancer complicated with respiratory failure who were admitted to the oncology department of our hospital (November 2018-November 2019) were chosen as the study subjects and split into group X (n=40) and group Y (n=40), according to method of coin tossing. Among them, group Y received clinical routine nursing care, while group X received humanistic nursing care based on the nursing care in group Y; after that, the effect of these two nursing care models on generalized pain and negative emotions in patients was compared. No obvious difference in sex ratio, age, smoking history, drinking history, Child-Pugh classification of liver function, tumor morphotype and place of residence was found between the two groups (P < 0.05). With no obvious differences in HAMA and HAMD scores between the two groups before nursing care (P > 0.05), HAMA and HAMD scores in group X after nursing care were obviously lower compared with group Y (P < 0.001). The VAS scores of the patients in both groups after nursing care were obviously lower (P < 0.001), VAS scores in group X after nursing care were obviously lower compared with group Y (P < 0.001). With no significant differences in quality of life and PSQI scores between the two groups before nursing care (P > 0.05), quality of life and PSQI scores in group X after nursing care were obviously better compared with group Y (P < 0.001). The scores of optimism, self-reliance and tenacity of the patients in both groups after nursing care were obviously higher (P < 0.05), and scores of optimism, self-reliance and tenacity of the patients in group X were obviously higher compared with group Y (P < 0.05). The total nursing satisfaction in group X was obviously higher compared with group Y (P < 0.05). Humanistic nursing care can effectively relieve generalized pain and improve negative emotions as well as life quality in patients with advanced liver cancer complicated with respiratory failure, with significant therapeutic effect, which is worthy of application and popularization in clinical nursing.

Serum N-glycan fingerprint nomogram predicts liver fibrosis: a multicenter study.

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is the end-stage of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases, non-invasive early detection of liver fibrosis (LF) is particularly essential for therapeutic decision. Aberrant glycosylation of glycoproteins has been demonstrated to be closely related to liver abnormalities. This study was designed to enroll a total of 1,565 participants with LC/LF, chronic hepatitis virus (CHB) and healthy controls. Fibrosis was confirmed by liver biopsy. Using capillary electrophoresis N-glycan fingerprint (NGFP) analysis, we developed a nomogram algorithm (FIB-G) to discriminate LC from non-cirrhotic subjects. The FIB-G demonstrated good diagnostic performances in identifying LC with the area under the curve (AUC) 0.895 (95%CI: 0.857-0.915). Furthermore, the diagnostic efficiencies of FIB-G were superior to that of log (P2/P8), procollagen III N-terminal (PIIINP), type IV collage (IV-C), laminin (LN), hyaluronic acid (HA), aspartate transaminase to platelets ratio index (APRI), and FIB-4 when detecting significant fibrosis (S0-1 vs. S2-4, AUC: 0.787, 95%CI: 0.701-0.873), severe fibrosis (S0-2 vs. S3-4, AUC: 0.844, 95%CI: 0.763-0.924), and LC (S0-3 vs. S4, AUC: 0.773, 95%CI: 0.667-0.880). Besides, changes of FIB-G were associated well with the regression of fibrosis and liver function Child-Pugh classification. FIB-G is an accurate multivariant N-glycomic algorithm for LC prediction and fibrosis progression/regression monitoring. The high throughput feasible NGFP using only 2μL of serum could help physicians make the more precise non-invasive staging of LF or cirrhosis and reduce the need for invasive liver biopsy.

Preoperative nutritional evaluation of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

This study is aimed at determining the preoperative nutritional status of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE), and subsequently establish a concise and reasonable nutritional evaluation indicator. The established evaluation method could be used for clinical preoperative risk assessment and prediction of post-operation recovery. The basic patient information on height, body weight, BMI and hepatic encephalopathy of 93 HAE patients were examined. Subsequently, abdominal ultrasonography, blood coagulation and liver function tests were done on the patients. Liver function was assessed using the Child-Pugh improved grading method while nutritional status was evaluated using the European Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) method. Additional parameters including hospitalization time, the hemoglobin (HGB) level on the 3rd day after the operation, and the number of postoperative complications of HAE patients were also recorded. The NRS 2002 score was negatively correlated with body weight, body mass index (BMI)and albumin (ALB) (P<0.01), and positively correlated with the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the lesions (P<0.01). A worse grading of liver function was associated with a low ALB and a high NRS 2002 score (P<0.01). Results of the NRS 2002 score indicate that the hospitalization time of the normal nutrition group was significantly shorter than that of the malnourished group (P < 0.05). The HGB level of the control group on the 3rd day after the operation was significantly higher than that of the malnourished group (P < 0.05), and the number of postoperative complications was lower than that of malnutrition group (P < 0.05). Malnutrition is common in HAE patients. The nutritional status of HAE patients is related to many clinical factors, such as Child-Pugh classification of liver function, size of the lesion, and ALB among others. Although both BMI and ALB can be used as primary screening indicators for malnutrition in HAE patients, NRS 2002 is more reliable and prudent in judging malnutrition in HAE patients. Therefore, BMI and ALB are more suitable for preoperative risk assessment and prediction of postoperative recovery.

Analysis of quality of life and influencing factors of decompensated cirrhosis patients with intestinal obstruction

Objective To explore the life quality of decompensated cirrhosis complicated with intestinal obstruction patients and analyze its influencing factors, and provide basis for clinical intervention. Methods In Affiliated People′s Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine, a retrospective collection of 39 patients with decompensated cirrhosis complicated with intestinal obstruction from August 2018 to August 2019 were included in the observation group, including 25 males and 14 females, aged (52.34±2.64) years old, ranging from 39 to 64 years old. A total of 42 patients with decompensated cirrhosis not complicated with intestinal obstruction were selected as the control group by random number table method in simple random sampling, including 30 males and 12 females, aged (51.34±3.45), ranging from 37 to 68 years old. The patients in the two groups were investigated by using the chronic liver disease patient quality of life scale- chronic liver disease questionnaire. The abdominal symptoms, fatigue, systemic symptoms, activity, emotion, anxiety, and the total score of quality of life of the patients in the two groups were compared, and the influencing factors were analyzed. Among them, measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as (Mean±SD), and comparison between groups was evaluated by t test; Comparison of count data was evaluated by chi- square test. Factors affecting quality of life were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results The scores of abdominal symptoms, fatigue, systemic symptoms, activity, emotion, anxiety and the total score of the observation group were (5.58±1.79), (4.23±1.74), (4.93±1.39), (5.36±1.36), (4.74±1.05), (4.26±1.25), (31.06±6.53), respectively. The scores of the control group were(6.27±1.12), (5.47±1.26), (6.14±0.78), (5.88±0.93), (5.45±0.82), (4.96±0.94), (33.79±4.01), respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Multiple linear regression results showed that disease course, child-pugh classification of liver function, discomfort symptoms such as abdominal pain, abdominal distension and fatigue, nutrition status, gender, age, medical expenses payment method, family per capita monthly income and anxiety were influencing factors. Conclusions Decompensated cirrhosis complicated with intestinal obstruction patients life quality is lower than decompensated cirrhosis not complicated with intestinal obstruction patients, and the influencing factors include disease-related factors and non-disease-related factors. Medical staff should give patients corresponding intervention according to their conditions to improve the quality of life of patients as much as possible. Key words: Liver cirrhosis; Intestinal obstruction; Decompensated cirrhosis; Quality of life

Preliminary application of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in individualized treatment of patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension complicated with refractory ascites and variceal hemorrhage

Objective: To investigate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the individualized treatment of patients with refractory ascites and variceal hemorrhage caused by portal hypertension. Methods: Prospective study of clinical data of 47 patients with portal hypertension and refractory ascites and variceal bleeding admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from August 2017 to December 2018, 26 males and 21 females, aged 23-75 (52±14) years old. The Viabahn stent was used to control the diameter of the shunt and the preoperative interval of PPG after individualized TIPS was determined according to the preoperative liver function Child-Pugh classification. The PPG of the Child A and B patients was <10 mm Hg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), Child-Pugh C grade patients with postoperative PPG interval values of 12 to 15 mmHg. The success rate, hemostasis rate, ascites remission rate, and complication rate were recorded. Results: Forty-seven patients were with a success rate of 100%, and there was no surgically related fatal complications. The portal pressure gradients of patients with Child-Pugh A, B and Child-Pugh C were reduced from preoperative (22.5±5.4), (24.4±2.6) mm Hg to postoperative (8.8±2.5), (13.2±1.1) mm Hg (all P<0.05). All the patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months, with a median follow-up of 13 months. The success rate of hemostasis in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding was 93.5% (29/31), the remission rate of patients with refractory ascites was 14/16, the postoperative rebleeding rate was 6.5% (2/31), the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was 8.5% (4/47), and the shunt disorder was 2.1% (1/47). Conclusion: The use of Viabahn stent for individualized TIPS in the treatment of portal hypertension with refractory ascites and variceal hemorrhage is feasible, and the clinical efficacy is affirmative, which can reduce the incidence of postoperative hepatic encephalopathy and shunt dysfunction.

Correlation Between Liver Stiffness Measured by Shear Wave Elastography and Child-Pugh Classification.

To explore the association between liver stiffness and the Child-Pugh classification of liver function by shear wave elastography (SWE). A total of 116 patients with liver cirrhosis were divided into 3 groups according to the Child-Pugh classification prospectively. Conventional ultrasound imaging and SWE were performed for all patients. The associations of liver stiffness measured by SWE with ultrasound measurements, serum biochemical indicators, and the Child-Pugh classification were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were analyzed and compared to determine the ability of liver stiffness to diagnose cirrhosis. Liver stiffness measured by SWE increased with an increasing Child-Pugh classification, internal diameter of the hepatic portal and splenic veins, spleen thickness, spleen length, total bilirubin level, and prothrombin time, which were positively correlated with the Child-Pugh classification (all P < .05). The albumin level and liver stiffness showed higher areas under the curve in comparison with other parameters for evaluating the Child-Pugh classification. Albumin and cholinesterase levels were negatively correlated with the Child-Pugh classification (P < .05). All of these indicators were significantly different between each pair of groups (all P < .05), except for the internal diameter of the hepatic portal vein, prothrombin time, and total bilirubin, and cholinesterase levels between groups B and C (P > 0.05) and the thickness and length of spleen and internal diameter of the splenic vein between groups A and B (P > 0.05). There were no differences among the groups for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and globulin levels. Liver stiffness measured by SWE was correlated with the Child-Pugh classification, and it may be able to help evaluate liver function in patients with cirrhosis.

Age-and, education-corrected number connection test and digit symbol test in diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy

To determine the age-and education-corrected control values for the number connection test (NCT) and digit symbol test (DST) psychometric measures to increase their accuracy for diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). The NCT Part A (NCT-A) and DST were administered to 843 healthy volunteers (age range:16-65 years; education:more than 1 year) and 429 patients with liver cirrhosis (with Child-Pugh classification of liver function). The normal values were defined as the mean ± 2 standard deviations (2SD);MHE was defined by abnormal results on at least one psychometric test. The statistical significance of differences in MHE diagnosis according to the various control values (age and education-corrected or not) was assessed by the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. NCT-A and DST were found to be influenced by age (standard coefficient 0.405, P =0.000 and standard coefficient-0.527, P =0.000 respectively) and education (standard coefficient-0.347, P =0.000 and standard coefficient 0.405, P =0.000 respectively). Among the 120 patients with liver cirrhosis who were diagnosed with MHE (27.97%), 113 had abnormal NCT-A results (26.34%), 54 had abnormal DST results (12.59%),and 47 had abnormal results on both tests (10.96%). Among these 120 MHE-positive patients, 21 were classified as Child-Pugh A (19.81%), 46 as Child-Pugh B (23.71%), and 53 as Child-Pugh C (41.09%);the MHE-positive rate was significantly greater in the patients with Child-Pugh C classification than those with either Child-Pugh B or Child-Pugh A (P < 0.01). Logistic analysis showed that when the control data was corrected for age and education, the MHE diagnosis was related with liver function (P =0.000), regardless of age (P =0.328) and education (P =0.563). When the control data was uncorrected, the MHE diagnosis was not only influenced by liver function (P =0.000) but also by age (P =0.000) and education (P =0.005). Age and education-corrected control values can increase the accuracy of MHE diagnosis by NCT-A and DST.

CT volume measurement for prognostic evaluation of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE

To analyze the value of computed tomography (CT) volume measurements for evaluation of the survival rate of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). One hundred and sixty-six unresectable HCC patients after TACE were involved in this retrospective study. Hepatic CT scan was performed for all patients before and 4 wk to 2 mo after TACE to define the morphologic features of HCC including its largest diameter, volume, product of the greatest axial dimension, tumor to liver volume ratio (TTLVR), and tumor shrinkage ratio. Clinical variables used in the study included gender, age, pattern of tumor growth, number of lesions, Child-Pugh classification of liver function, repeated TACE times, pre- or post-treatment alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, portal vein cancerous thrombus, tumor metastasis, degree of lipiodol retention within the tumor, and percutaneous ethanol injection. The correlation between survival time and clinical variables of patients or lesions was analyzed by combining morphologic features with the corresponding clinical and general data as input. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze prognostic factors. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative survival time. Influence of the parameters on prognosis was analyzed by the log-rank test. The overall 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60 mo cumulative survival rates were 78.92%, 49.85%, 23.82%, 15.60% and 8.92%, respectively. The median survival time was 12 mo. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that only 4 parameters were the independent prognostic factors including TTLVR (chi(2) = 14.328, P < 0.001), portal vein cancerous thrombus (chi(2) = 5.643, P = 0.018), repeated TACE times (chi(2) = 8.746, P = 0.003), and post-treatment serum AFP level (chi(2) = 5.416, P = 0.020). When the TTLVR value was less than 70%, the survival time was inversely correlated with the TTLVR value. CT volume measurement technique can predict the prognosis of unresectable HCC patients after TACE.