Question
A patient with chronic liver disease has been taking medication but has not recovered. Recently, they have been experiencing confusion and sometimes forgetting the identities of people around them. Examination confirmed it as liver encephalopathy. What harmful effects can this disease bring?
Answer
Liver encephalopathy can be divided into stages 0 to 4 based on the severity of the patient’s consciousness impairment, neurological symptoms, and changes in the electroencephalogram. Mild cases of liver encephalopathy may show no obvious abnormalities, with only slight neurological and psychological abnormalities. This may result in difficulty completing fine motor tasks due to inattention, posing safety risks for activities such as working at heights or driving. Severe cases of liver encephalopathy may affect life safety due to central nervous system depression.