Korean J Gastroenterol.  2019 Nov;74(5):274-280. 10.4166/kjg.2019.74.5.274.

Brief Review of the Revised Korean Association for the Study of the Liver Clinical Practice Guidelines for Liver Cirrhosis: Varices, Hepatic Encephalopathy and Related Complications

• Jang ES

• KMID: 2464186
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2019.74.5.274

Abstract

Liver cirrhosis patients are suffering from many complications, which are directly related to a poor prognosis. Although there have been many recent advances in diagnosis and treatment for varix and hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients, the standard practice for these conditions should consider the different medical resources and etiology of these liver diseases among various countries. The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver published in 2005 a clinical practice guideline for the treatment of cirrhosis complications, and this year, they revised the guideline for treating gastroesophageal varices and hepatic encephalopathy. This review summarizes the revised practice guideline and emphasizes the updated recommendation.

Keyword

Liver cirrhosis; Esophageal and gastric varices; Hepatic encephalopathy; Guideline

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Esophageal and Gastric Varices
Fibrosis
Hepatic Encephalopathy*
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis*
Liver Diseases
Liver*
Prognosis
Varicose Veins*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The prevention of initial gastroesophegeal variceal bleeding. Adapted from 2019 KASL clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis: varices, hepatic encephalopathy, and related complications2, with permission from Korean Association for the Study of the Liver. GOV, gastroesophageal varices; IGV, isolated gastric varices; RTO, retrograde transvenous obliteration.

• 

  Fig. 2 The treatment of acute variceal bleeding and prevention of gastroesophegeal variceal rebleeding. Adapted from 2019 KASL clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis: varices, hepatic encephalopathy, and related complications2, with permission from Korean Association for the Study of the Liver. GOV, gastroesophageal varices; IGV, isolated gastric varices; RTO, retrograde transvenous obliteration; TIPS, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

• 

  Fig. 3 The treatment and prevention of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy. Adapted from 2019 KASL clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis: varices, hepatic encephalopathy, and related complications2, with permission from Korean Association for the Study of the Liver. P.O., per-oral; BCAA, branched chain amino acid; IV, intravenous; LOLA, L-ornithine-L-aspartate.

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