Psychosocial Condition After Liver Transplantation in Children: Review of the Literature From 2006 to 2008

Pediatric liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease of various causes. With most patients surviving long term after surgery, questions and concerns nowadays focus on morbidity and quality of life. Characterizing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after liver transplantation provides a more complete estimate of the overall health of liver transplant candidates and recipients. HRQOL remains, however, a wide concept, with various interpretations in the literature, varying from medical assessment of physical status to considering various nonmedical aspects. Among the former aspects, concerns are commonly addressed about physical health and the psychological and/or social functioning of both transplanted children and their families. This detailed review of the most relevant papers analyzing of HRQOL after pediatric liver transplantation published between January 2006 and September 2008 includes the psychosocial aspects in children/adolescents, parents, and/or family members after liver transplantation, emphasizing limitations inherent to "measuring" and analyzing HRQOL aspects.