Cirrhosis is advanced, long-term scarring of the liver caused by ongoing damage such as hepatitis, fatty liver or alcohol. Management focuses on treating the cause, preventing complications, and screening for liver cancer; advanced disease may need transplantation assessment.
Vomiting blood, black stools, confusion, deep jaundice
| Definition | Advanced scarring (fibrosis) of the liver |
| Causes | Hepatitis B/C, fatty liver, alcohol, autoimmune disease |
| See a specialist | Abnormal liver tests, jaundice, swelling, or known liver disease |
| Urgency flags | Vomiting blood, black stools, confusion, deep jaundice |
What is cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is the end stage of many chronic liver diseases, in which healthy tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue. This scarring stiffens the liver and impairs its function and blood flow. Early (compensated) cirrhosis may cause few symptoms, while advanced (decompensated) cirrhosis causes serious complications.
Symptoms & causes
Early cirrhosis is often silent or causes tiredness and mild abnormal liver tests. As it advances it can cause jaundice, fluid in the abdomen (ascites), leg swelling, easy bruising, confusion and bleeding. The leading causes are hepatitis B and C, fatty liver disease, alcohol and autoimmune conditions.
Diagnosis
Cirrhosis is assessed with blood tests, ultrasound and elastography (a scan that measures liver stiffness), with CT or MRI when needed. Because cirrhosis raises the risk of liver cancer, regular surveillance scanning is an essential part of care.
Treatment & surgical role
Treatment centres on tackling the cause (for example antiviral therapy, weight loss, or stopping alcohol) and managing complications such as ascites and variceal bleeding, which can be controlled endoscopically. A surgical gastroenterologist is involved in screening for and treating liver cancer and in transplantation assessment for advanced disease.
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View all services →Documented cases from our practice
A "difficult gallbladder" with dense scarring — removed safely by key-hole surgery without conversi…
Read case → Real case Polyp to Prevention: How a Colonoscopy Stopped a CancerA pre-cancerous polyp found and removed during screening — a colon cancer prevented before it could…
Read case → Real case Yellow Eyes to Relief: Clearing a Blocked Bile Duct by EndoscopyDeep jaundice from a bile-duct stone relieved by ERCP — no open surgery needed.
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Last reviewed: June 2026Frequently asked questions
Established scarring is usually permanent, but treating the underlying cause early can halt progression and, in some cases, allow partial recovery of liver function.
Cirrhosis significantly raises the risk of liver cancer, so six-monthly surveillance scans help catch any tumour early, when it is still curable.
Vomiting blood, black stools, marked abdominal swelling, deep jaundice or confusion are warning signs that need urgent medical attention.
Transplantation is assessed when cirrhosis becomes advanced (decompensated) or when liver cancer develops within criteria that make transplant the best option.
Look for a surgical gastroenterologist experienced in liver cancer screening and complication management. Dr. Avinash Tank provides cirrhosis surveillance and surgical liver care at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
सिरोसिस के कारण का इलाज (जैसे हेपेटाइटिस, फैटी लिवर) प्रगति को रोक सकता है। नियमित जांच से लिवर कैंसर की समय पर पहचान होती है, और एडवांस मामलों में ट्रांसप्लांट का मूल्यांकन किया जाता है।
Underlying cause (hepatitis, fatty liver) ka ilaj progression rokta hai. Regular scans se liver cancer jaldi pakड़ में aata hai, aur advanced cases mein transplant evaluate kiya jaata hai.
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