Conditions: Hepatic Encephalopathy Cirrhosis Portosystemic Encephalopathy PSE
Keywords: Hepatic Encephalopathy HE Cirrhosis PSE Portosystemic Encephalopathy Hepatic coma AMS Altered mental status Complications of cirrhosis Chronic liver disease
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 50
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This study is being done to find out if the laxative polyethylene glycol (also known as GoLYTELY® or Miralax®) can treat your hepatic encephalopathy (confusion due to your liver disease and/or cirrhosis) better and/or more safely than lactulose (another laxative). In this study, the investigators will evaluate if polyethylene glycol (GoLYTELY®) is more effective than lactulose on neurocognition (memory and thinking skills) and determine if it decreases the hospital stay.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: None arm 2: Per standard of care

Interventions: intervention 1: Polyethylene glycol 3350-electrolyte solution (GoLYTELY®) intervention 2: Lactulose
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: If randomized to this arm, subjects will receive a 1 time dose of 1 gallon intervention 2: If randomized to this arm, subjects will receive 10-30 grams per standard of care

Protocol document: