Liver Specialists of Texas Newsletter Vol 4 No 3 

The sodium content in food is very important to those individuals with liver disease.

In this podcast, Dr. Galati outlines the various risk factors for hepatitis C. Risk Factors for hepatitis C include: PERSONS RISK OF INFECTION TESTING RECOMMENDED? Injecting drug users High Yes Recipients of clotting factors made before 1987 High Yes Hemodialysis patients Intermediate Yes Recipients of blood and/or solid organs before 1992 ... [More Info]

Dr. Galati discusses in this podcast issues related to being a new patient in the practice, Liver Specialists of Texas. He talks about getting old records prior to the visit and other tips to have an meaningful visit with him and his staff.

Dr. Joe Galati and Jeff Toal, Practice Administrator for Liver Specialists of Texas, discuss patient responsibilities and what can be done to have the best experience while being a patient in our practice. The key to any practice experience is to be prepared. Requesting old medical records before the visit will allow Dr. Galati and his staff to review records, and have a better idea of what testing has already been performed. This will lead to a more efficient evaluation, but also reduce... [More Info]

Liver biopsy is a very useful tool in the diagnosis and management of patients with liver disease. Dr. Galati in the pod cast reviews various aspects of the procedure.

Currently, Interferon and Ribavirin are the two medications, used in combination, to treat chronic hepatitis C. The course of therapy is usually 48 weeks. It is well known that interferon and ribavirin are associated with a number of side efffects. Despite this, therapy can be completed with minimal disruption. Over the years, Dr. Galati has learned that a well educated patient on the management of the side effects is the best option to complete therapy successfully. In the pod cast, Dr.... [More Info]

Fibrosis of the Liver: A Commonly Used Term with Great Misunderstanding for the Patient Joseph S. Galati, M.D. Liver Specialists of Texas January 2007 A day does not go by where I find myself sitting with a patient explaining what fibrosis of the liver is. In most situations, patients have a hint of what fibrosis is, but they are unfamiliar with the other words that can be substituted for fibrosis, which might include scarring, scar tissue, collagen, connective tissue, or... [More Info]

A day does not go by in my practice where a patient and/or their family members do not present me with information on a particular disease that they obtained from the internet. This is a very powerful tool that patients have available to them. In most cases, going to the internet is a worthwhile experience. Though in some select cases, going to the internet and looking up a particular disease or problem may have a significantly negative impact. Over the years, I have seen numerous patients who... [More Info]

Practice Guidelines in Liver Disease
In this section, I have selected key practice guidelines related to the management of patients with acute and chronic liver disease. These articles are written by experts in the field of hepatology, and should serve as introductory guidelines to these disorders. These articles have been made available to the public courtesy of the Americas Association of the Study of Liver Disease and its associated medical societies.

These practice guidelines are available on the web for the purpose of patient information and to assist physicians that are confronted with patients with these disorders. The promotion of quality medical care is the goal of these guidelines.

 
Dr. Galati's Blog
View Dr. Galti's Blog on Liver and Wellness where he discusses a wide range of topics. There is the ability to comment back and start a discussion on these important topics.