Liver transplant and quality of life in the pediatric population

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Liver transplantation is emerging as the treatment of choice for children with end-stage liver disease and some cases of acute liver failure. Owing to improvements in the surgical and medical management of liver transplantation, most patients survive surgery and do well physically in the posttransplant period. However, quality of life (QOL) for these children remains below expectation and is associated with poor psychological and social functioning. In this article, we review the recent literature and provide an opinion regarding QOL in pediatric liver transplant (PLT) patients and possible interventions to optimize it. RECENT FINDINGS: We reviewed articles published in 2013 and 2014 reporting QOL in PLT survivors. Our review of the literature suggests that children undergoing liver transplantation have varying degrees of QOL in the post transplantation period despite improvements in medical and surgical managements. SUMMARY: It is important to proactively identify and address psychological difficulties in patients and their families prior to transplant. Following transplantation, a multidisciplinary approach to targeting rehabilitation and decreasing negative effects of the transplant may assist with improving the QOL for patients and their families.