Introduction: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a neuropsychiatric complication in the patient with hepatic insufficiency, portal hypertension and/or portosystemic shunt, where there is cognitive damage, which includes alterations in attention, integrative function, delay in information processing, among others in the absence of manifest hepatic encephalopathy.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of MHE by measuring cognitive damage in patients with hepatic cirrhosis through the PHES battery.

Methodology: An observational, prospective, cross-sectional, and analytical study was carried out in patients with liver cirrhosis diagnosis, who came to the outpatient clinic of the gastroenterology department at the UMAE HE No. 14 Adolfo Ruiz Cortines National Medical Center. Patients with cirrhosis and no history of psychiatric illness or manifest encephalopathy were included, with previous authorization of informed consent and the research committee from the UV Medical School. The PHES battery was used as standardized test.

Results: The sample size was calculated to be 66 patients. The PHES battery was performed in 34 of them, of which 35% (12) were diagnosed with minimal hepatic encephalopathy, 50% (6) women. The average age was 59 ± 10 years, minimum range 39, maximum range 80 (95% CI).

Conclusion: The prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in 12 (35%), at UMAE HE No.14. The number and symbols test (DST) had a significant correlation regarding years of study, gender and age variables.