What are the complications of cirrhosis?
The complications of cirrhosis include bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract as accessory blood vessels form in the region of the liver because of damage. Fluid accumulation in the abdomen, known as ascites, is also quite common and there is a possibility that this fluid may become infected presenting as a condition known as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Because the liver filters waste products from the bloodstream, a condition known as hepatic encephalopathy can develop if the liver is injured to a degree where it cannot remove these waste products from the body. The complication of this is a mental slowing or confusion, which is reversible and can easily be treated successfully with medications if properly diagnosed.
