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We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
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The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
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Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
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The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
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Hepatic ischemia
Definition
Hepatic ischemia is a condition in which the liver does not get enough blood or oxygen, causing injury to liver cells.
Alternative Names
Ischemic hepatitis; Shock liver
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Low blood pressure from any condition can lead to hepatic ischemia. Such conditions may include:
- Dehydration
- Infection
- Severe bleeding
Other causes may include:
- Blood clots in the main artery to the liver (hepatic artery) after a liver transplant
- Swelling of blood vessels leading to reduced blood flow (vasculitis)
Symptoms
If low blood pressure continues for a long time, you may feel weak and lightheaded. However, the period of low blood pressure may be brief and produce no symptoms. Damage to the liver cells usually does not cause symptoms.
Blood clots in the liver's main artery may cause abdominal pain.
Signs and tests
The following tests will be done:
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. Low blood pressure and blood clots must be properly treated.
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
Patients generally recover if the illness causing hepatic ischemia can be treated. Death from liver failure due to hepatic ischemia is very rare.
Complications
Liver failure is a rare but life-threatening complication.
Calling your health care provider
See your health care provider right away if you have persistent weakness or symptoms of shock or dehydration.
Prevention
Quickly treating the causes of low blood pressure may prevent hepatic ischemia.
References
Jain R, Thiele DL. Gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of systemic diseases. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 35.
Hauser SC. Vascular diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 146.
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