Advances in cirrhosis: Optimizing the management of hepatic encephalopathy

Table 1 Precipitating factors for hepatic encephalopathy

Noncompliance with lactulose

Dehydration from lactulose overuse

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Infection/sepsis

Medications (narcotics, sedatives, etc.)

Recreational drugs (cocaine, marijuana, etc.)

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Alcohol intoxication

Electrolyte dysfunction

Constipation

Renal failure

Constipation

Table 2 Non-hepatic encephalopathy causes of altered mental status

Acidosis

Drug intoxication

Encephalitis

Hyperglycemia

Hypoglycemia

Hypocapnia

Hypoxia

Intracranial hematoma

Severe sepsis

Thyroid dysfunction

Uremia

Wernicke encephalopathy and korsakoff syndrome (vitamin B1 deficiency)