PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What might be a possible classification for a patient with advanced cirrhosis according to the scoring system?

1. Class A

2. Class B

3. Class C

4. Class D

The correct answer is: Class B

In the context of liver cirrhosis, the most commonly used classification system is the Child-Pugh score, which categorizes the severity of cirrhosis into three classes: A, B, and C. This scoring system is based on clinical and laboratory criteria, including serum bilirubin, serum albumin, prothrombin time, presence of ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. A patient with advanced cirrhosis typically indicates significant liver dysfunction and associated complications. In this classification: - Class A indicates mild liver disease with a good prognosis. - Class B represents moderate liver disease, where the patient may experience some complications, and there is an increased risk of mortality but still a reasonable chance of survival with appropriate management. - Class C signifies severe liver disease with substantial complications, such as significant ascites, prolonged prothrombin time, and potential for hepatic encephalopathy, which correlates with a poorer prognosis and higher mortality risk. Choosing Class B for a patient with advanced cirrhosis suggests that while the disease is serious and complications are present, it is not yet at the most critical stage as denoted by Class C. This classification informs treatment decisions and helps in predicting patient outcomes.