SUB-CLINICAL HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS SUBJECTED TO SEDATION WITH EITHER PROPOFOL OR MIDAZOLAM:

Abstract

SUMMARY H epatic encephalopathy (HE) is a complex neurological disorder associated with advanced liver disease of either acute or chronic nature (Ferenci et al., 2002). Hepatic encephalopathy is characterized by personality changes, intellectual impairment, and a depressed level of consciousness. An important prerequisite for the syndrome is diversion of portal blood into the systemic circulation through portosystemic collateral vessels (Riggio et al., 2005). Subtle signs of hepatic encephalopathy are observed in nearly 80% of patients with cirrhosis (Bajaj, 2008). Approximately 30% of patients dying of end-stage liver disease experience significant encephalopathy, approaching coma (Ferenci et al., 2003). A milder form of hepatic encephalopathy referred to as sub-clinical hepatic encephalopathy (minimal hepatic encephalopathy). The term MHE refers to the subtle changes in cognitive function, electrophysiological