Advanced chronic liver disease (cirrhosis)
What we do
Advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) includes advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. It occurs when the amount of scar tissue (called fibrosis) builds up and affects the way the liver looks and functions. Fibrosis can be caused by many different liver diseases (for example metabolic liver disease, alcohol related liver disease, virus and autoimmune diseases).
People with ACLD are at risk of “decompensation”, where the liver is not capable of performing all of its normal functions.
The ACLD team provides the specialist input needed to diagnose and manage the symptoms of liver disease, usually working in partnership with your local gastroenterology or hepatology teams, GP and community services.
Our team will help you access specialist treatments for your liver disease when you need them.
We discuss all patients referred to the ACLD service in a multidisciplinary meeting.
Depending on the outcome of this meeting, we aim to see patients as soon as possible after referral. We then discuss with you, at your clinic appointment, options for management of your condition.
Common complications of ACLD we manage are:
- ascites (fluid build-up in the abdomen)
- encephalopathy (the effect of liver disease on brain function)
- varices and bleeding (swollen veins in the gullet and stomach which can cause bleeding)
- malnutrition (weight loss which is associated with advanced liver disease)
Patient information is also available from the British Liver Trust.
Preparing for your appointment
Your local hospital or GP will refer you to our service and will enclose in their referral to us all relevant recent blood tests and investigation results.
Please bring a copy of your current medications with you and any letters you have received from specialists you have seen in the past.
Please try and think of the main questions you would like answered when you come to your appointment and write them down before you come so we can answer them for you.
Location
Suite 9, Third Floor, Golden Jubilee Wing, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS
Contact Details
- Main Reception: +44 (0)20 3299 3654
- ACLD service: kch-tr.kchacld@nhs.net
- First outpatient appointment: +44 (0)20 3299 1919
- Follow-up appointments: +44 (0)20 3299 4979
- Follow-up appointments email: kch-tr.liveroutpatients@nhs.net
Patient Information Leaflets
Conditions we treat
The advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) service provides specialist input in managing complications of liver disease and portal hypertension. It aims to optimise management of the underlying liver condition, cure liver disease where possible, improve quality of life and minimise unnecessary hospital admissions.
NICE guidelines suggest all patients with a model for end-stage liver disease score (MELD Score) of more than 12 should be referred to a hepatologist.
We encourage referral to our service for patients with the following complications of ACLD:
- ascites
- encephalopathy
- hepatic hydrothorax
- portal vein thrombus
- refractory/recurrent portal hypertension related GI bleeding
- other clinical concern in patients with ACLD
The ACLD service provides access to:
- a multidisciplinary forum for discussion of patients with complex decompensated chronic liver disease
- liver transplantation assessments
- transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunts (TIPS)
- optimisation of nutritional status
- alcohol liaison services
- tunnelled peritoneal catheter (long-term ascitic drain) insertion
- palliative care and advanced care planning
All patients referred are discussed at the ACLD multidisciplinary team meeting and then seen for a face to face appointment in our dedicated ACLD clinic.
What is required before referring a patient
Referrers should fill out the ACLD MDM referral form referral below with as much information as possible. It is also useful to inform the patient that they have been referred to King’s College Hospital, and that they should expect an appointment here within two to three weeks.
Booking a patient at King's
Routine Referrals
Tertiary referrers should refer via the ACLD MDM referral form below and email to kch-tr.acldreferrals@nhs.net
GPs should refer via NHS e-Referral. Include the ACLD MDM referral form below and state that the referral is urgent.
Emergency Referrals
The liver unit always has an on-call specialist registrar, supported by a consultant, to accept urgent referrals requiring inpatient assessment or advice. To contact them, call the main switchboard on 020 3299 9000 and ask for the adult hepatology SpR or on-call adult hepatology consultant.
Referral Forms
Please complete the relevant form and note any pre-consultation investigations required:
Key Clinical Staff
| Name | Job Title |
|---|---|
| Dr Michelle Cheung | Consultant |
| Mr Alejandro Esquivel Morocho | Advanced Chronic Liver Disease CNS |
| Dr Vishal C Patel | Advanced Chronic Liver Disease |
| Prof Debbie Shawcross | Professor of Hepatology & Chronic Liver Failure ACLD Team |