We all know that our bodies have certain organs that are absolutely essential for survival. Your liver is exactly one of them. You can think of it as a massive, high-functioning factory within your body, performing hundreds of vital tasks every single day. So, imagine what would happen if this factory suddenly—or even gradually—stopped working. This is what we call liver failure. In simple terms, it means your liver is no longer capable of performing the tasks necessary to keep your body running properly. This is a very serious medical condition, so let’s take a closer look at what it involves.
What is liver failure?
Liver failure is rarely an overnight event; it is usually a progressive process. In some cases, it can occur rapidly, over a matter of days or weeks. In other cases, it develops slowly over months or even years. As your liver’s function gradually declines, you will begin to notice corresponding symptoms.
Acute Liver Failure
This is what we refer to as acute liver failure. It happens when the liver is subjected to sudden, overwhelming damage or stress, such as severe poisoning or a sudden, aggressive viral infection. Because the liver loses its ability to function almost instantly, symptoms appear rapidly. This is a critical medical emergency that requires immediate professional care at the nearest hospital or emergency department (call 911).
Chronic Liver Failure
This is the more common form. Chronic liver failure occurs when the liver has sustained damage over a long period, eventually reaching a point where that damage is irreversible. This typically follows significant scarring of the liver, a condition known as cirrhosis. These scar tissues prevent the liver from performing its vital functions effectively.
What are the stages of liver failure? (Specifically in chronic cases)
Most medical experts view chronic liver failure as the final stage of long-term liver disease. Liver disease often progresses through several stages, though keep in mind these stages can sometimes overlap. For example, someone with liver scarring (fibrosis) might simultaneously have active inflammation (hepatitis).
| Stage and Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Stage 1: Inflammation (Hepatitis) | This refers to swelling or injury in the liver. Chronic hepatitis, caused by long-term disease, marks the beginning of prolonged damage. While inflammation is part of the body's attempt to repair cells, if it persists, it leads to fibrosis. |
| Stage 2: Fibrosis | Lokhu kwenzeka lapho izicubu zesibazi ziqala ukwakheka esibindini, ngendlela inxeba elishiya ngayo isibazi esikhumbeni. Kungumphumela wokuvuvukala okuqhubekayo. Njengoba lesi sibazi sanda, isibindi siyaqina. Kodwa-ke, lesi sigaba singavamise ukuguqulwa uma imbangela eyisisekelo yokuvuvukala yelashwa. |
| Isigaba 3: I-Cirrhosis | Kulesi sigaba, izibazi zibanzi futhi ngokuvamile azikwazi ukuhlehliswa. Nakuba isibindi sinamandla amakhulu okuvuselela, sidinga izicubu ezinempilo ukuze senze kanjalo. I-cirrhosis yisimo esihlala njalo, yize ukungenelela kwezokwelapha kunganciphisa noma kumise ukuqhubeka okuqhubekayo. |
| Isigaba 4: Ukwehluleka Kwesibindi | Ukwehluleka kwesibindi okungapheli kuqala lapho i-cirrhosis ibangela isibindi ukuba sibe buthakathaka kakhulu ukuba singakwazi ukwenza imisebenzi yaso ebalulekile. Njengoba ukusebenza kuncipha, izinkinga zisakazeka emzimbeni wonke. Nakuba kungenzeki ngobusuku obubodwa, ngaphandle kokufakelwa isibindi , kungagcina sekusongela ukuphila. |
Ziyini izimpawu zokwehluleka kwesibindi?
Izimpawu zizohluka kuye ngokuthi ukwehluleka kungakanani kanye nezinkinga ezithile eziye zavela.
Izimpawu zokuqala:
Lokhu kungabonakala kokubili ekuhlulekeni kwesibindi okungapheli kanye nokwehluleka kwesibindi okubukhali:
- Ubuhlungu besisu (ikakhulukazi ohlangothini oluphezulu kwesokudla)
- Ukukhathala okukhulu kanye nomuzwa ojwayelekile wokuzizwa ungaphilile (malaise)
- Isicanucanu , ukuhlanza , kanye nokulahlekelwa yisifiso sokudla
Izimpawu eziqondene nesifo sesibindi:
Njengoba isibindi silwa, i-bile kanye nobuthi obuhlukahlukene buqala ukuqoqana egazini, okuholela ezimpawini ezithile:
- I-jaundice (ukuphuzi kwesikhumba kanye nokumhlophe kwamehlo)
- I-Hepatic Encephalopathy (izinguquko zengqondo ezifana nokudideka, ukukhohlwa, noma ukushintsha kokuziphatha)
- Ukulunywa kwesikhumba (Pruritus) (ngaphandle kokuqubuka okubonakalayo)
- Umchamo omnyama kanye/noma indle enombala okhanyayo
Ezinye izimpawu zokwehluleka kwesibindi okungapheli:
Lezi zimpawu zingakhula kancane kancane:
- I-Coagulopathy: Ukuphuka okulula nokopha.
- Imithambo yegazi emincane efana nesicabucabu ebonakala esikhumbeni.
- Ama-fatty deposit amancane, aphuzi esikhumbeni noma emaqabungeni.
- Izinkinga zokugaya ukudla, ikakhulukazi ngokudla okunamafutha.
- Ukwehla kwesisindo okungachazeki kanye nokulahlekelwa yimisipha.
- Umoya onuka kabi.
Izimpawu ezinzima:
Okulandelayo kuyizimpawu zezinkinga ezinkulu zezokwelapha:
- Ama-Ascites (ukunqwabelana koketshezi okubangela ukuvuvukala kwesisu)
- I-Edema (Ukugcinwa koketshezi okuholela ekuvuvukeni emaqakaleni, emilenzeni, ezingalweni, noma ebusweni)
- Ukuhlanza igazi noma izinto ezibukeka njengezinhlayiya zekhofi
- Izinkinga zokulawula imisipha (njengokuthuthumela noma ukudikiza)
- Ukwehla kokukhishwa komchamo
- Ubunzima bokuphefumula
Ingabe izimpawu ziyahlukahluka ngokobulili?
Yebo, ukwehluleka kwesibindi kungathinta ama-hormone akho ocansi. Ngenxa yokuthi isibindi sakho sicubungula ama-hormone afana ne-estrogen ne-testosterone, ukwehluleka kwaso kungaholela ekungalinganini, okubangela izimpawu ezahlukene kwabesilisa nabesifazane.
- Kwabesifazane, imijikelezo yokuya esikhathini ingase ingabi njalo noma ime ngokuphelele.
- Kwabesilisa, ungase uzwe ukushwabana kwamasende kanye nokukhula kwezicubu zamabele.
Kuzwakala kanjani ukwehluleka kwesibindi?
Uma isibindi sakho sihluleka, ubuthi buyanqwabelana egazini lakho, okukwenza uzizwe ungaphilile kahle. Ngenxa yokuthi isibindi sakho asisakwazi ukuhlunga lobu buthi ngempumelelo, ungase ube nesicanucanu, ukukhathala okukhulu, kanye nobuthakathaka. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lobu buthi bungathinta ubuchopho bakho (i-hepatic encephalopathy), okuholela ekudidekeni, ekucasukeni, ekukhathazekeni, ekulaleni ngokweqile, noma ezinkingeni zokulawula imisipha.
Yini ebangela ukwehluleka kwesibindi?
Nakuba ukwehluleka kwesibindi okubukhali nokungapheli kuqhubeka ngendlela ehlukile, kokubili kubangelwa ukucindezeleka ngokweqile esibindini. Kuye ngobukhulu baso, ubuthi noma izifo ezithile zingabangela umonakalo ngokuzumayo noma kancane kancane isikhathi eside.
| Izimbangela Eziyinhloko Zokwehluleka Kwesibindi | |
|---|---|
| Uhlobo | Izibonelo |
| Okubukhali (Ngokushesha) | Ukweqisa izidakamizwa (ikakhulukazi i-Acetaminophen/Paracetamol), izifo ezibangelwa amagciwane ezinzima (i-Hepatitis A, B, E), ukudla amakhowe anobuthi, kanye nezinkinga ngesikhathi sokukhulelwa. |
| Okungapheli (Isikhathi Eside) | Ukusebenzisa kabi utshwala isikhathi eside , ukutheleleka okuqhubekayo kwe-Hepatitis B no-C, isifo sesibindi esinamafutha (i-MASH/MASLD), kanye nezimo zokuzivikela komzimba. |
Yiziphi izinkinga zokwehluleka kwesibindi?
Ngenxa yokuthi isibindi sakho senza imisebenzi eminingi ebalulekile, ukwehluleka kwaso kuthinta umzimba wakho wonke. Isibonelo:
- Ubuthakathaka obujwayelekile, ukukhathala, inkungu yengqondo, kanye nokuncipha kokuqwashisa kwengqondo.
- Ubuthi obuthinta ubuchopho bakho, uhlelo lwezinzwa kanye nokusebenza kwemisipha.
- Izinkinga zokugaya ukudla, ukumuncwa kahle kwezakhamzimba (ukungamuncwa kahle), kanye nokungondleki kahle.
- Ukwehla kwamandla okujiya kwegazi, okuholela ekuqhumeni nasekuphumeni kwegazi kalula.
- Isimiso somzimba sokuzivikela esibuthakathaka, okwandisa ukuthambekela ekuthelelekeni ngezifo.
Kubalulekile ukukhumbula ukuthi i-Portal Hypertension (umfutho wegazi ophezulu emthanjeni we-portal wesibindi) obangelwa yi-cirrhosis iyimbangela ehamba phambili yokulaliswa esibhedlela kanye nokufa ezigulini ezinesifo sesibindi esingamahlalakhona. Lokhu kuvame ukuba yimbangela eyinhloko yezinkinga ezifana ne-ascites kanye nokopha kwangaphakathi.
Kuhlonzwa kanjani ukwehluleka kwesibindi?
Uma ubonisa izimpawu zokwehluleka kwesibindi, udokotela wakho uzokwenza izivivinyo ukuqinisekisa ukuxilongwa, okungabandakanya:
- Ukuhlolwa Kwegazi:Ukuhlolwa Kokusebenza Kwesibindi (ama-LFT) kulinganisa amaprotheni ahlukahlukene nama-enzyme ukuhlola impilo yesibindi sakho. Ukuhlolwa kwegazi kusiza futhi ekuboneni imbangela yokwehluleka nokuthola izinkinga ezifana ne-anemia noma ukuphazamiseka kokujiya kwegazi.
- Ukuhlolwa Kokuthwebula Izithombe: Ukuthwebula izithombe nge-ultrasound noma ama-MRI kungathola ukuvuvukala, izibazi, noma ukunqwabelana koketshezi (ama-ascites) esiswini. I-Elastography iyindlela ekhethekile yokuthwebula izithombe esetshenziswa ngesikhathi se-ultrasound noma i-MRI ukukala ukuqina noma inani lezibazi (i-fibrosis) esibindini sakho.
- Ukuhlolwa Kwesibindi: Kuthathwa isampula encane yezicubu, ngokuvamile kusetshenziswa inaliti engenalutho, ukuze kuhlaziywe elebhu. Ukuhlolwa kwesibindi kubalulekile ukuqinisekisa i-cirrhosis nokunquma imbangela eyinhloko yomonakalo wesibindi.
Kuphathwa kanjani ukwehluleka kwesibindi?
Odokotela baseNirogi Lanka babeka phambili amasu alandelayo ekwelapheni:
- Ukuphatha izinkinga.
- Ukwelapha imbangela eyisisekelo noma nini lapho kungenzeka.
- Ukuhlola isidingo sokufakelwa isibindi .
Ukunakekelwa okusekelayo ukuze kuqiniswe isimo sakho kungafaka:
- Uketshezi olufakwa emthanjeni (IV)
- Ukudla okunomsoco kwe-IV
- Ukuqapha nokuphatha amazinga kashukela egazini
- Ama-antibiotic noma ama-antiviral
- Ukumpontshelwa igazi nge-plasma noma nge-blood
- Ukwelashwa nge-oxygen noma ukuphefumula ngomshini
- Imithi ye-Vasopressor yokusekela umfutho wegazi
- Imithi noma izindlela zokulawula ukopha kwangaphakathi
- I-Dialysis uma izinso zakho nazo zingasebenzi kahle
Ukwelashwa kwezimbangela ezithile eziyisisekelo kungafaka:
- Ukwelashwa kokusebenzisa ngokweqile: Nakuba ubuthi obuningi bungenawo umuthi othize, ubuthi be -Acetaminophen bungelashwa nge -Acetylcysteine . Ezinye izindlela eziphuthumayo zokungenelela kobuthi zingafaka phakathi ukuhlanza isisu (ukumpompa isisu) noma i-activated charcoal.
- Imithi yezimo ezingamahlalakhona: Uma ukwehluleka kwakho kungenxa yesifo esingamahlalakhona, imithi ingasiza ekunciphiseni umonakalo. Isibonelo, ama-corticosteroids kanye nama-immunosuppressants asetshenziswa ukuphatha izinkinga zesibindi ezihlobene nokuzivikela komzimba.
Ithimba lakho lezokwelapha lizoqapha intuthuko yakho eduze. Uma bethola ukuthi isimo sakho asilulami futhi impilo yakho iyonakala, bangakubeka ohlwini lwezinto eziza kuqala lapho ukufakelwa isibindi.
Ungakuvimbela kanjani ukwehluleka kwesibindi?
Ukwehluleka kwesibindi okukhulu kuyisimo esingavamile kodwa esibi kakhulu. Ngisho nesenzakalo esisodwa esibi singasibangela. Ungazivikela ngokulandela lezi zinyathelo ezilula zokuvimbela:
- Zivikele ebuthi: Uma uphatha amakhemikhali ayingozi njengezibulala-zinambuzane, izibulala-fungi, izinto zokuhlanza, upende, noma izifutho ze-aerosol, sebenzisa njalo amagilavu okuzivikela kanye nezifihla-buso.
- Gwema ukuchayeka egazini: Ungalokothi wabelane ngezinto zakho siqu ezingase zithwale igazi, njengezinaliti, izinsingo, noma amabhulashi amazinyo. Gwema ukuthintana ngqo namanxeba abanye abantu abavulekile.
- Beka ukuphepha kokudla kuqala: Gwema ukudla amakhowe asendle ngaphandle kokuthi uchwepheshe ekuwahlonzeni. Uma uhamba phesheya, qaphela ukudla okuluhlaza. Geza izandla zakho kahle njalo ngaphambi kokulungisa ukudla.
- Gomela i-Hepatitis: Imithi yokugomela i-Hepatitis A kanye ne-Hepatitis B iyatholakala. Xoxa ngalokhu nomhlinzeki wakho wezempilo.
- Sebenzisa imithi njengoba uyalelwe: Ungalokothi weqe umthamo onconywayo, ngisho nasemithini yokwelapha ubuhlungu ethengiswa ngaphandle kwemithi kadokotela. Gwema ukuxuba utshwala nemithi.
- Hlala useduze nodokotela wakho ngesikhathi sokukhulelwa: Nakuba izinkinga eziholela ekuhlulekeni kwesibindi zingavamile, ungangabazi ukufuna iseluleko sezokwelapha uma uhlangabezana nanoma yiziphi izimpawu ezingavamile.
Ukuvimbela ukwehluleka kwesibindi okungapheli kuncike kakhulu endleleni okhetha ngayo indlela yokuphila. Isifo sesibindi esingamahlalakhona siqhubeka isikhathi eside. Uma kutholakala ukuthi unesifo sesibindi, izinguquko zendlela yokuphila zingasiza ekunciphiseni, kumise, noma ngezinye izikhathi kuguqule inqubo.
- Hlela ukuhlolwa njalo: Abantu abaningi abazi ukuthi banesifo sesibindi kuze kube yilapho kuvela izimpawu. Ukuhlolwa njalo kungasiza ekutholeni izinkinga kusenesikhathi.
- Lawula impilo yakho ye-metabolic: Ushukela ophezulu egazini, i-cholesterol ephezulu, kanye ne-Body Mass Index (BMI) ephezulu kubeka ingcindezi enkulu esibindini. Ukudla okunempilo kanye nokuzivocavoca njalo kuyizindlela zakho zokuzivikela ezinhle kakhulu.
- Qaphela ngemithi ethengiswa ngaphandle kwemithi kadokotela: Ukusebenzisa ngokweqile imithi yokunciphisa ubuhlungu njenge-NSAID noma i-acetaminophen kungalimaza isibindi. Xhumana nodokotela wakho uma unesifo sobuhlungu obungapheli.
- Nciphisa noma uqede utshwala nogwayi: Kokubili kuyingozi esibindini. Uma unesifo sesibindi, ukuyeka ngokuphelele kuyindlela enempilo kakhulu.
Ungakwazi yini ukululama ekuhlulekeni kwesibindi?
Ukululama ekuhlulekeni kwesibindi okubukhali kungenzeka, yize imiphumela ihlukahluka ngokuya ngezimo zomuntu ngamunye. Ukwehluleka kwesibindi okungapheli akunakuguqulwa ngokuphelele, kodwa ngoba kuqhubeka kancane, ukungenelela kwezokwelapha kungalibazisa kakhulu intuthuko yaso. Ngokuvamile, uma kukhona ukwelashwa okuthile kwesimo sakho futhi ufuna ukunakekelwa ngokushesha, amathuba okuthuthuka aphezulu kakhulu.
Umuntu angaphila isikhathi esingakanani nokwehluleka kwesibindi?
Ukwehluleka kwesibindi okukhulu kungaba yingozi empilweni zingakapheli izinsuku, amasonto, noma izinyanga. Ukwehluleka kwesibindi okungapheli kungaqhubeka izinyanga kuya eminyakeni. Ukuqhubeka kuncike ezintweni eziningana:
- Ubukhulu bembangela eyinhloko yokulimala kwesibindi.
- Ukusebenza kahle kokwelashwa ekunciphiseni noma ekubuyiseleni emuva umonakalo.
- Ubukhulu bomonakalo wesibindi okhona.
- Isimo sakho sempilo iyonke kanye nokufinyelela ezinsizeni zezokwelapha.
Yini okufanele ngiyenze uma nginesifo sesibindi?
Ukwehluleka kwesibindi okunamandla kuyisimo esiphuthumayo sezokwelapha. Uma usola ukuthi ubhekene nalokhu, funa usizo ekamelweni eliphuthumayo eliseduze ngokushesha. Nakuba ukwehluleka kwesibindi okungapheli kungeyona into ephuthumayo ngaso sonke isikhathi, kuyisimo esibi sesikhathi eside. Uma utholakale une-HIV, ungasekela isibindi sakho ngokudla okunempilo kanye nendlela yokuphila ehlelekile.
- Nciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwezidakamizwa: Gwema utshwala nogwayi, thatha imithi ebhalwe ngudokotela kuphela, bese uthintana nodokotela wakho ngaphambi kokusebenzisa noma yimaphi amakhambi noma izithasiselo.
- Gcina ukudla okulinganiselayo: Ushukela ophezulu egazini kanye namazinga amafutha kuyacindezela isibindi. Uma uhlushwa ukushoda kokudla okunempilo ngenxa yokungasebenzi kahle kwesibindi, xhumana nochwepheshe wezokudla ukuze wakhe uhlelo lwesikhathi eside olufanele.
- Vikela amasosha omzimba wakho: Ukwehluleka kwesibindi kwenza amasosha omzimba wakho abe buthaka, okwenza ube sengozini enkulu yokutheleleka ngamagciwane namagciwane. Zivikele ngezikhathi zomkhuhlane bese uthintana nodokotela wakho mayelana nemigomo enconyiwe.
I-Nirogi Lanka: Umlayezo Wokugcina Wokuyisa Ekhaya
Isibindi sakho siyisitho sangaphakathi esikhulu kunazo zonke emzimbeni wakho, futhi sidlala indima ebalulekile ekusindeni kwakho. Uma siqala ukuhlupheka, ungase usibone ngezindlela ezahlukene. Ngenhlanhla, isibindi asivami ukuyeka ukusebenza ngesikhathi esisodwa. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ubhekene nokwehluleka kwesibindi okubukhali noma okungamahlalakhona, ukutholakala kusenesikhathi kanye nokwelashwa okusheshayokungandisa kakhulu isikhathi sokuphila kwesibindi sakho. Ezigabeni zokugcina, ukufakelwa isibindi kungaba yindlela esindisa impilo. Beka impilo yesibindi sakho phambili, futhi ungalokothi ulibale ukufuna iseluleko sezokwelapha uma kuvela izimpawu.
