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1) A 45 year old gentleman with cirrhosis, secondary to alcoholic liver disease, is admitted to hospital with abdominal pain and confusion. His confusion has worsened in the last twelve hours.
DH: He brings with him a bag of medication, which includes furosemide 40mg once in the morning, thiamine 50mg daily and propranolol 40mg once daily.
SH: His carer states that he no longer drinks alcohol but used to drink half a bottle of wine per day. She states he has been confused for about a week, and she has been with him, so he could not have drunk any alcohol in that time.
On examination:
Temperature 37 degrees, heart rate 77bpm, blood pressure 122/81. He is disorientated in place and time, and a left hand resting tremor. He has a hepatic flap. On abdominal examination he has hepatomegaly. PR examination shows compacted stool.
Investigations:
Na 139 mmol/L (135-145), K 4.8 mmol/L (3.5-4.9), Urea 4.6 (2.5-7.0), Cr 80 umol/L (60-110), albumin 21g/L (37-49), bili 76 (1-22), ALT 111 (5-35), ALP 121 U/L (45-105), Ammonia 121 mcg/dL (15-45)
CT head: no acute abnormalities detected.
Select the most appropriate option at this stage.
A Chlordiazepoxide high dose regime commencing at 30mg QDS
B Folic acid 5mg daily
C Hartmann’s solution IL over 6 hours
D Lactulose 30-50ml 3 times per day
E Lorazepam 1mg IV over 2 minutes