Preoperative expectations and postoperative quality of life in liver transplant survivors

Objective: To assess normalization in the lives of Liver transplant patient s and the impact of preoperative expectations on postoperative quality of l ife (QOL). Design: A semistructured interview, 2 QOL questionnaires, and chart reviews of medical histories. Setting: Internal medicine department at Innsbruck university hospital, Aus tria, Participants: Fifty-five patients (32 men, 23 women) with liver transplants . Interventions: The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) and Functional Assessmen t of Cancer Therapy-General. Results: Patients' preoperative expectations of a normal Life style posttra nsplantation were predominantly optimistic (60%), but postoperatively only 40% thought that their expectations had been realized. The patients' SIP va lues showed significant impairments in nearly every area of life when compa red with the values of a healthy control group. Only "complications during the hospitalized phase" had a statistically significant impact among the so ciodemographic and clinical parameters on postoperative QOL. The lowest QOL scores were found among patients whose expectations of a return to normal life style had not been realized. Conclusion: Unmet life-style expectations after liver transplantation may l ead to increased stress, which affects QOL long term. This finding is of cl inical relevance; therapeutic measures, particularly professional pretransp lant counseling, are indicated.