Preoperative Visitation Effect on Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: While transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a treatment option for patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B hepatocellular carcinoma, it is associated with physical and psychological pain, with concerns regarding its effect on quality of life (QOL). In December 2020, we introduced radiology nurse-led preoperative visits to patients undergoing TACE. This study aimed to examine QOL improvement following a preoperative visit.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Among patients scheduled to undergo TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma, 48 received a preoperative visit and 22 did not (control group). We compared QOL variables between the groups using the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) at hospital admission and discharge.

RESULTS

No significant between-group differences in clinical backgrounds were observed. In the control group, SF-36 scores at admission/discharge were as follows: physical function (PF), 42.87±14.46/34.71±19.70 and mental health (MH), 51.32±8.67/45.26±11.35, respectively. In the subgroup analysis, the PF/MH item results were PF 40.89±14.55/31.46±19.25 and MH 51.10±9.07/44.79±12.04 for older adult patients in the control group. In the preoperative visit group, PF (admission, 42.31±14.23; discharge, 41.54±14.12; =0.989) and MH (admission, 48.45±10.97; discharge, 49.59±10.05; =0.399) were maintained.

CONCLUSION

PF/MH items at admission and discharge were maintained or improved in the preoperative visit group, whereas those in the control group showed a significant decrease. Preoperative visits contributed to maintaining patient QOL.