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Patients at Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service now have a clearer picture of how healthy their liver is.
Clinical Nurse Consultant, Irena, from South Western Sydney Local Health District’s Hepatology Service visited the Airds centre on Thursday, 29 February and performed 29 liver fibroscans.
The fibroscan sends a pulse through the liver, a bit like an ultrasound, to measure the stiffness of the liver.
This involves putting a probe between the ribs on the right-hand side of the chest and pushing a button which delivers a vibration into the liver.
Stiffness in the liver indicates scarring.
The higher the score, the more likely the liver has fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- 5 to 7.4 suggests minimal fibrosis
- 7.5 to 9.4 suggests moderate fibrosis
- 9.5 or higher suggests severe fibrosis or cirrhosis
Yearly fibroscans are recommended for patients with abnormal liver function tests.
GPs can refer patients to liver specialists at Liverpool Hospital’s Department of Gastroenterology and Liver for:
- Fibroscan/Shear Wave Elastography
- Viral Hepatitis or other Chronic Liver Disease
- Cirrhosis (compensated/decompensated)
- Unexplained marked liver function test derangement
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (suspected or confirmed)
Referral form templates are available here
CAPTION: Irena performs the quick and painless fibroscan on patient Margaret.