Quality of Life Outcomes for Patients Who Underwent Conventional Resection and Liver Transplantation for Locally Advanced Hepatoblastoma

Do you think quality of life is worse for patients who undergo liver transplant compared to resection for hepatblastoma? Hi, I'm Doctor Sophia Schermerhorn from Cincinnati Children's, and this study looks at long-term quality of life outcomes for pediatric patients who undergo liver transplant compared to hepatic resection for locally advanced hepatoblastoma. As survival for hepatoblastoma continues to improve, long-term quality of Life becomes a more important outcome. This single institution cross-sectional study used validated pediatric quality of life surveys to evaluate long-term survivors. Overall, quality of life outcomes were similar between the two groups, with no significant difference in emotional, social, physical, or school functioning outcomes. This challenges the assumption that liver transplantation necessarily leads to a worse. Long-term quality of life. One notable difference was procedural anxiety. Patients who underwent resection had lower overall procedure anxiety scores than transplant patients. This finding was also mirrored in the parents' surveys as well. The key takeaways long-term quality of life outcomes appear comparable between patients who undergo resection and liver transplantation. This means that the surgical strategy can really be focused on oncologic control.