Hepatic_encephalopathy_grades v.1
The Hepatic encephalopathy grading system uses the West Haven Criteria for staging hepatic encephalopathy.
Using the West Haven Criteria, the Hepatic Encephalopathy Grade provides a method for clinicians to: - Classify severity of encephalopathy - Provide information about a patient's level of consciousness - Provide information about changes in a patient's mental state.
Patients with known cirrhosis and prior hepatic encephalopathy or without known cirrhosis but suspected liver disease and altered mental status. The 4 grades are listed in the tool issuing a score from 1 to 4. The West Haven Criteria are based on the following Signs/symptoms: - Changes in behavior with minimal change in level of consciousness - Gross disorientation, drowsiness, possibly asterixis, inappropriate behavior - Marked confusion, incoherent speech, sleeping most of the time but arousable to vocal stimuli - Comatose, unresponsive to pain; decorticate or decerebrate posturing The resultant score is the grading equivalent to that chosen from the list. Grades I to IV Hepatic Encephalopathy
Do not use the score on its own for diagnostic purposes without supporting evidence
Ref 1: Hepatic Failure: An Evidence Based Approach in the Emergency Department. Emergency Medicine Practice, 2010.
OBSERVATION.hepatic_encephalopathy_grades.v1, EVALUATION.hepatic_encephalopathy_grades_assessment.v1
