Management of hepatic encephalopathy in Germany: a survey among physicians

 Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis with impairment of quality of life and prognosis. Management patterns among physicians have not been investigated yet. A questionnaire containing 17 questions was sent out to 1468 gastroenterologists and 120 general practitioners (GPs). It included questions regarding diagnostic, therapeutic, and management strategies used in patients with overt HE (OHE) and covert HE (CHE). The response rate was 12 % (n = 172) for gastroenterologists and 45 % (n = 54) for GPs. Of gastroenterologists, 26.7 % examine patients with an initial diagnosis of liver cirrhosis regarding HE. Gastroenterologists favored a combination of differen…