Abstract

BARCELOS, Sílvia; DIAS, Alexandre Simões; FORGIARINI JR., Luiz Alberto  and  MONTEIRO, Mariane Borba. Liver transplantation: effects in pulmonary capacity, functional condition and quality of life. Arq. Gastroenterol. [online]. 2008, vol.45, n.3, pp. 186-191. ISSN 0004-2803.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-28032008000300003.

BACKGROUND: The liver transpslantation is used for treatment of end-stage liver disease, where the survival and liver function are markedly improved after transplantation. AIM: To evaluate and compare lung function, functional capacity and quality of life in patients submitted to liver transplantation after 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of procedure. METHODS: Observational study with convenience groups composed by 30 patients, which had been divided in six groups (5 subjects each), in preoperative period and in the period of 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after liver transplantation. All the individuals were evaluated at the same time, verificating the measurement of the forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure, distance and domains related to quality of life. RESULTS: According to the explanation, it was observed improvement in all variables in subsequent groups to the liver transplantation in periods of 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months when compared to the preoperative group. The most significant changes occurred during the maximum inspiratory pressures, the distance and physical functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The liver transplantation as an alternative treatment for advanced liver disease, gives the patients benefits in respiratory and physical-functional conditions with improvement of life quality.

Keywords : Liver transplantation; Total lung capacity; Functional residual capacity; Quality of life.