Hepatic encephalopathy is a group of syndromes caused by severe acute or chronic liver disease with central nervous system dysfunction based on metabolic disturbances and altered consciousness and behavior or coma as its main clinical manifestations. Common causes include infection, drug and chemical intoxication, ischemia and hypoxia, and metabolic defects, as well as cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, and post-portal shunt surgery. Among them, cirrhosis is the most common cause, such as hepatitis viral cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, cardiogenic cirrhosis, schistosomal cirrhosis, chronic drug-related liver disease, hepatomegaly and advanced hematologic disease. Common triggers include the consumption of high protein, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, excessive use of diuretics or sedative drugs, massive discharge of ascites, electrolyte disorders, surgery and various infections, etc., all of which may be triggered.