Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2010; 16(19): 2388-2395
Published online May 21, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i19.2388
Quality of life after curative liver resection: A single center analysis
Helge Bruns, Kirsten Krätschmer, Ulf Hinz, Anette Brechtel, Monika Keller, Markus W Büchler, Peter Schemmer
Helge Bruns, Kirsten Krätschmer, Ulf Hinz, Markus W Büchler, Peter Schemmer, Department of General Surgery, Ruprecht-Karls-University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Anette Brechtel, Monika Keller, Psychosomatic Medicine, Section Psychooncology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Author contributions: Bruns H and Krätschmer K contributed equally to this work; Bruns H, Krätschmer K, Brechtel A, Keller M, Büchler MW and Schemmer P designed the research; Bruns H and Krätschmer K performed the research; Bruns H, Krätschmer K, Hinz U and Schemmer P analyzed the data; Bruns H, Krätschmer K, Büchler MW and Schemmer P wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Peter Schemmer, MD, Department of General Surgery, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. peter.schemmer@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Telephone: +49-6221-566110 Fax: +49-6221-564215
Received: December 6, 2010
Revised: January 15, 2010
Accepted: January 22, 2010
Published online: May 21, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate quality of life (QoL) after curative liver resection and identify variables associated with decreased QoL.

METHODS: From October 2001 to July 2004, 323 patients underwent liver resection. At 3-36 mo after discharge, 188 patients were disease free. QoL was assessed using the Short Form (SF)-12 Health Survey with mental and physical component scales (SF-12 MCS and PCS), supplemented with generic questions concerning pain and liver-specific items.

RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent (128/188) returned the questionnaire, which was completed in 75% (96/128) of cases. Median SF-12 PCS and MCS were 46.7 (interquartile range: 34.2-53.9) and 54.1 (42.8-58.2). Fifty percent were pain free with a median symptom score of 1.75 (1.38-2.13). PCS was higher after major hepatectomy [57% (55/96)] compared to minor resection (P = 0.0049), which represented an improved QoL. QoL was not affected by sex but by age compared to the general German population. MCS was higher after liver surgery for metastatic disease [55.9 (47.5-58.8)] compared to primary carcinoma [49.6 (36.5-55.1)] and benign disease [49.2 (37.7-56.3)] (P = 0.0317). There was no correlation between length of postoperative period and QoL. Pain, deficiencies in everyday life and a high symptom score significantly decreased MCS and PCS.

CONCLUSION: Most patients were only marginally affected even after major liver resection; however, minor complications were associated with decreased SF-12 MCS and PCS and need careful attention.

Keywords: Quality of life, Liver resection