Cirrhosis

Overview

Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver malfunctions due to chronic injury, and scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue.

There are multiple possible causes of cirrhosis. Examples include alcohol-related liver disease, hepatitis C, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis, and some inherited diseases.

Many people with cirrhosis have no early symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include weakness, fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Cirrhosis treatments try to stop the progression of scar tissue and further complications. Treatments may include the avoidance of alcohol and drugs, and nutrition therapy.

Applicable Procedures

Liver Biopsy

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There are multiple causes of cirrhosis of the liver. These include long term alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis, iron buildup in the body, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, immune conditions, issues with bile ducts, genetic disorders, infections, and certain medications. Chronic hepatitis is a risk factor for cirrhosis, and it is actually one of the top causes of liver disease. Being obese and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol also increase your risk of cirrhosis.

How is cirrhosis of the liver treated?

The aim of treatment for cirrhosis is to slow the progression of the condition and treat complications of the disease. If caught early, treating underlying causes can prevent further damage to the liver. For example, treatment for alcohol abuse can reduce toxic effects on the liver. Those who are overweight can improve their liver health by following a healthier diet to control weight and reduce the effects of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Some people may also need medications to treat underlying health conditions, like hepatitis, to reduce the risk of further liver damage. Others may require medications to treat infections, fluid buildup, or accumulation of toxins. In advanced stages of cirrhosis, the only treatment option is a liver transplant from a healthy donor.

What are the complications of cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis can lead to a variety of complications, including portal hypertension, which is high blood pressure in veins responsible for supplying blood to the liver. Portal hypertension can cause swelling in the legs and stomach, enlarged spleen, and severe bleeding. Other complications of cirrhosis include infections, malnutrition, bone disease, increased cancer risk, and a condition called jaundice, which causes eyes and skin to appear yellow. In some cases, a liver that is damaged by cirrhosis cannot clear toxins effectively, which causes them to build up in the brain, leading to confusion, concentration problems, and even coma.

Common Symptoms

“I started to feel extremely tired, and I noticed that I was bruising easily and had no appetite.”
“I noticed changes to my appearance, such as yellowing of my skin, spider like blood vessels, redness on my palms, and swelling in my legs. I was also itchy all the time.”
“In addition to losing my appetite and dropping weight, I felt nauseous, and my stomach was swollen.”

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What They Are Saying

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Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

Based on 6268 reviews

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missy S.

Macomb Endoscopy Center is a great place to have your procedure. The staff is friendly and the process is efficient. I was in at 8:2oam and out by 10:00am. Dr. Bologna is the best. He cares about his patients and has a great bedside manner. I would highly recommend them!

Lamarques C.

Great office visit, very clean. Everyone was very knowledgeable and was patient!

B G.

The Center for Digestive Health is an extremely well run, efficient facility and I recommend it fully. Dr. Wille is the best! He is personal, professional, compassionate, very friendly and he inspires confidence in his assessment and treatment of my conditions. No one wants to have to deal with the things that go on in this office, but when it's necessary - and it's eventually necessary for all of us - Dr, Wille and the Center for Digestive Health are the ones that should be at the top of your list to consider for your health needs. Five Stars Plus!

David R J.

The medical staff is very professional. They didn't miss a beat from the time I entered the door, procedure and out the door. Dr. Nandi and staff keep up the professionalism and positive energy.

Jelennie P.

Dr. Nandi is an excellent doctor!!!!

Stephen P.

Top notch center for care.Dr Donat is an excellent physician and has been my GI doctor for over 20 years.The staff could not have been any nicer and made the process easy.I would recommend the center and physicians there without any hesitation.

Matthew B.

A very positive experience. The entire team was absolutely incredible. Informative. Friendly. Detailed and patient. This was my experience fron ALL of the staff from check in, pre op and post op. Very impressed and grateful.

email S.

Great staff. My colitis is much better.

Cathy W.

Dr Willie and his staff are just wonderful. They are very professional and treat their patients with a great deal of respect.

Tracy T.

I was very nervous but Dr. Bologna was very caring and put my mind at ease. Staff were very nice.

Lori L.

Excellent! This staff was very helpful. I highly recommend this medical team!

Liberty L.

Dr. Quallich seems to really care about his patients and is easy to talk to. He listens to the patient and addresses concerns thoroughly. Great practice.

Michael T.

The provider's and staff at the center for digestive health they are professional in every way highly recommend Dr Donat for your colonoscopy procedure.

Bryan M.

Great job by the entire staff! Thank you!

jerry R.

Everyone one was wonderful from the second you sign in to the end of your procedure. Dr. Donat is so nice and thorough! I couldn't have asked for a better experience!

Michael G.

Great staff and service!

Margaret M.

My whole experience was pleasant prompt! Allison was great getting me ready for the procedure and answered all of my questions. Dr Wille is so personable and calm, I felt very relaxed and well cared for. Can’t recommend him and his team enough!

Shana H.

Great communicators, everyone on staff is kind, compassionate, knowledgeable and full of useful information.

Renato D.

I only waited 10 minutes after I arrived before they took me back. The procedure only lasted 1 hour before I was in recovery. Thanks for everything!

Carlos C.

It went very smoothly, everyone was very nice very happy place very professional.

Peter F.

Professional, timely and very concerning. Thank you Doctor Nandy and Staff.

Valerie D.

I was really nervous, but the staff and Doctor Bakken took really good care of me. It was a really good experience.

R L.

The office was nice enough to call me to arrive earlier than my appointment time as there were cancellations. The staff and Dr. Bakken were warm and friendly. They made me feel comfortable as this was my first time at their office. It was nice to have your own private recovery room and to receive a warm gown and blanket as it gets cold in doctors offices.

Ted M.

I felt everyone that helped me truly cared and Dr Amir Abadir also had time to actually listen to my issues. Thanks to all of you.

Kent E J.

Professional, personal, and caring.

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

Based on 6273 reviews

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Jill H.

I really appreciate the professionalism of Dr. Donat and the surgical team at the Diggestive Center. The office as a whole is totally focused on you, your procedure and aftercare! I'd recommend them to anyone.

Cheryl M.

The check in was easy and efficient. The experience was fine and Dr Bologna was pleasant and took time to explain the results.

Mary H.

Every single person I came in contact with that works jn this facility was kind, cheerful , efficient,and professional . Best experience I've ever had with a colonoscopy.

Nalisa F.

I received optimum care from the receptionist to my departure care nurse. I totally love and trust Dr. Bakken as she gave me comfort before and after my procedure. This was a calming experience that I will never forget. Thank you all, especially Roger!

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

Christina N. Brown, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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