for Veterans and the Public
What is Decompensated Cirrhosis? - Cirrhosis for Patients
![Varisceal Blood Flow](/HEPATITIS/images/va02-pt/complic/fig14_variscealbloodflow2.gif)
If you experience any of the serious problems described below, your disease has progressed from compensated cirrhosis to decompensated cirrhosis. You are then at risk of dying from these life-threatening complications unless your sick liver can be replaced with a healthy liver (liver transplant).
- Bleeding varices (internal bleeding)
- Ascites (fluid in the belly)
- Encephalopathy (confusion)
- Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin)
We will describe each of these in more detail on the next few screens.