Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatic Coma

Abstract

Hepatic coma is usually diagnosed clinically; laboratory findings in most cases only confirm the diagnosis.

There is still no fully satisfactory treatment for hepatic coma, but various measures, outlined here, will have favorable results in many cases.

Effective management requires prompt recognition of early stages of hepatic coma and prompt institution of treatment, especially in cases in which massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage has occurred.