[Management of hepatic encephalopathy]

Among the general principles of the therapy of hepatic encephalopathy the authors discuss the intensive care of patients, maintenance of their volume and electrolyte balance, treatment of coagulation defect, therapy of gastrointestinal bleeding and portal hypertension, provision of central renal catheter, infection prophylaxis, monitoring of intracranial pressure, and if necessary, respiration and intubation of patients. The study also deals with possibilities of treatment based on the toxic hypothesis and on the theory of neurotransmitters. Attention is paid to the therapy of brain oedema and to the significance of hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, plasmapheresis and hybrid bioartificial liver cell treatment. The authors deal with the indications of glucagon-insulin therapy and emphasize the importance of liver transplantation in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.