Montúfar-Silva et al. (2026)
abarcan la monitorización hemodinámica estrecha, el control farmacológico y no farmacológico
del dolor recalcitrante y la fatiga crónica, la vigilancia rigurosa del balance hídrico y electrolítico,
el soporte nutricional hiperproteico e hipercalórico orientado a prevenir o contrarrestar la
sarcopenia y la desnutrición proteico-calórica, así como la ejecución de procedimientos invasivos
paliativos como el drenaje peritoneal de líquido ascítico refractario en el ámbito comunitario. En
la esfera psicosocial, la enfermería fomenta el fortalecimiento de las redes de apoyo familiar y
social, imparte educación sanitaria continua para el autocuidado, promueve mecanismos de
afrontamiento eficaces y previene activamente el síndrome de sobrecarga o agotamiento del
cuidador principal mediante la redistribución equitativa de responsabilidades cotidianas.
Asimismo, la dimensión espiritual resulta determinante para brindar confort existencial,
respetando profundamente la cosmovisión, los rituales y las creencias individuales del paciente,
y facilitando espacios de diálogo, reconciliación y cierre emocional. En conclusión, la evidencia
científica demuestra que un abordaje holístico, humanizado y estructurado por parte del equipo
de enfermería comunitaria optimiza el control de síntomas, reduce las rehospitalizaciones no
planificadas, preserva la dignidad humana y transforma positivamente la calidad de vida de los
pacientes con enfermedad hepática avanzada y de sus familias.
Palabras claves: Cirrosis hepática; Cuidados paliativos; Enfermería; Hipertensión portal;
Complicaciones; Calidad de vida; Apoyo psicosocial; Sarcopenia.
Abstract
Hepatic cirrhosis is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible condition characterized
morphophysiologically by the diffuse replacement of functional parenchyma with a dense fibrillar
extracellular matrix and abnormally structured regenerative nodules; this drastically alters internal
vascular architecture and sinusoidal microcirculation. This structural distortion increases
resistance to portal blood flow, triggering clinically significant portal hypertension defined by a
hepatic venous pressure gradient exceeding 10 mm Hgwhich acts as the central
pathophysiological driver of the most severe clinical manifestations. Epidemiologically, cirrhosis
is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adults worldwide, driven primarily by sustained
harmful alcohol consumption, chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections, and the marked rise in
metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, alongside less common but complex
etiologies such as autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson's disease (copper accumulation), and hereditary
hemochromatosis (iron overload). The disease's clinical course progresses from a prolonged,
often asymptomatic compensated phase to decompensated stages characterized by the onset of
serious complications that drastically compromise short- and medium-term survival. Key
decompensation events include ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis resulting from bacterial
translocation, gastroesophageal varices carrying a high risk of massive gastrointestinal
hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy induced by the systemic accumulation of neurotoxins (such
as ammonia), hepatorenal syndrome, and eventual progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. In
this complex clinical landscape, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary palliative care stands as an
essential component that should not be deferred until the terminal phase but rather integrated
early into the patient's ongoing management. Nursing interventions focused on the community
and home environment play a pivotal role in alleviating the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual
suffering of both the patient and their support network. In the physical realm, nursing care
encompasses close hemodynamic monitoring; pharmacological and non-pharmacological
management of intractable pain and chronic fatigue; rigorous monitoring of fluid and electrolyte
balance; high-protein, high-calorie nutritional support aimed at preventing or counteracting
sarcopenia and protein-calorie malnutrition; and the performance of invasive palliative procedures
such as the peritoneal drainage of refractory ascites within the community setting. In the
psychosocial sphere, nursing fosters the strengthening of family and social support networks,
provides ongoing health education for self-care, promotes effective coping mechanisms, and
actively prevents caregiver burden or burnout through the equitable redistribution of daily
responsibilities. Furthermore, the spiritual dimension is crucial for providing existential comfort,
deeply respecting the patient's worldview, rituals, and individual beliefs, while facilitating
opportunities for dialogue, reconciliation, and emotional closure. In conclusion, scientific evidence
demonstrates that a holistic, humanized, and structured approach by the community nursing team
optimizes symptom control, reduces unplanned hospital readmissions, preserves human dignity,
and positively transforms the quality of life for patients with advanced liver disease and their
families.
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