Nurse-led multidisciplinary care improves recovery and quality of life after hepatectomy for liver cancer: A radiological imaging-based evaluation

Primary liver cancer often requires partial hepatectomy, but postoperative liver regeneration and quality of life remain suboptimal. This study sought to assess the association of a nurse-led multidisciplinary collaborative (NMC) care model on patient recovery and quality of life using radiological imaging and other objective metrics. This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for primary liver cancer between July 2019 and January 2025. Participants were divided into NMC or standard care (SC) groups based on their postoperative care model. Liver regeneration was assessed using CT-based volumetric imaging to calculate baseline, postoperative regeneration index (RI), and residual liver growth rate. Liver function was evaluated using the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score. Perioperative complications and hospital stay duration were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life and psychological status were measured preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. The study analyzed 120 patients (NMC = 63, SC = 57). The NMC group had higher RI at 3 and 6 months (6 months: 88.58% vs. 87.09%, P = 0.019) and better ALBI scores at 3 and 6 months (−2.77 vs. −2.68, P = 0.028). The NMC group had a lower overall complication rate (9.52% vs. 26.32%, P = 0.016) and shorter hospital stays (11.03 vs. 11.78, P = 0.031). At 6 months, the NMC group reported better global health status (76.89 vs. 72.06, P = 0.020) and lower incidence of new-onset anxiety (4.76% vs. 17.54%, P = 0.024). Implementing a nurse-led multidisciplinary collaborative care model after partial hepatectomy for primary liver cancer is associated with better physiological recovery and overall quality of life in patients. This research seeks to examine the effects of a novel nurse-led multidisciplinary collaborative (NMC) care model on improving recovery and quality of life after partial hepatectomy for primary liver cancer, using objective assessments based on radiological imaging.