Screening recommendations for patients with liver cirrhosis
| Complication | Screening recommendations |
|---|---|
| Esophageal varices | Initial screening may be performed by platelet count and transient elastography All patients with high-risk varices should be offered esophagogastroduodenoscopy For those with medium to large varices, endoscopic variceal band ligation is appropriate for prevention of bleeding9 |
| Hepatocellular carcinoma | All patients with cirrhosis should undergo routine ultrasonography every 6 months to screen for hepatocellular carcinoma9,16 |
| Hepatic encephalopathy | Clinical diagnosis based on exclusion of other causes of brain dysfunction18 Ammonia levels should not be used to diagnose or stage patients with hepatic encephalopathy17,18 |