Liver disease is now the 3rd commonest cause of premature death in the UK and the only one of the 5 main causes of premature mortality to be rising. 11% of all 40-50yr olds who die in the UK do so from liver disease.
There is an epidemic in fatty liver disease currently in the UK associated with Diabetes and Obesity and this is now the commonest cause for liver disease in the UK, with a 10 fold increase in the number of Hospital admissions (1998-2010).
Most patients with scarring of the liver will be symptom free until the liver fails – at this point they will become unwell very quickly and have a mortality of 50-70% over the next 12 months.
Blood tests and ultrasound scans are not reliable in diagnosing liver scarring (cirrhosis). Until recently liver biopsy was the only reliable way to look for scarring in the liver, but this procedure is not without risks.
Fibroscan is a new technology using transient elastography that allows assessment of whether an individual has liver cirrhosis present. The test is non-invasive and painless with no side effects.
Information at your appointment:
The scanner checks for signs that your liver has been damaged. The scan is quick, easy and painless. You will need to starve at least 1 hour prior to the scan. Newbury Soup Kitchen has a private area for people to have their scan. You will need to pull up your top so the nurse can scan your tummy, where your liver is.
The nurse holds a probe against your tummy. It’s about the size of a microphone. The probe sends out a pulse and measures how long it takes to pass through your liver. The pulse feels like a flick on your skin.The nurse can read your result straight away. They will tell you what it means and whether there is anything you should do next.
The scanner was substantially funded by Greenham Trust in 2019
Chris Boulton CEO says, “We are delighted it is in continuing use”.
For information, please see the Government Website Link below:
