Postoperative Psychiatric Complications in Living Liver Donors

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2015-07, Vol.47 (6), p.1860-1865
• Main Authors: Kimura, H, Onishi, Y, Sunada, S, Kishi, S, Suzuki, N, Tsuboi, C, Yamaguchi, N, Imai, H, Kamei, H, Fujisiro, H, Okada, T, Ishigami, M, Ogura, Y, Kiuchi, T, Ozaki, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - etiology; Female; Hepatectomy - psychology; Humans; Incidence; Japan - epidemiology; Liver Transplantation - adverse effects; Living Donors - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Quality of Life; Surgery; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.06.021

Abstract Background To understand the impact of psychologic variables on donor quality of life, we studied long-term data on postoperative psychiatric complications in living liver donors. This study is a focused psychological investigation of diagnoses, treatments, and long-term clinical courses of living liver donors with psychiatric complications. Methods Of the 142 donors who underwent live-donor liver transplantation at Nagoya University Hospital between April 2004 and July 2014, we investigated those without a history of mental illness who had developed such illness after transplantation and required psychiatric treatment. Results A total of 6 (4.2%) donors developed the following psychiatric complications after transplantation: major depressive disorder (n = 2), panic disorder (n = 2), conversion disorder (n = 1), and substance use disorder (n = 1). Concerning psychiatric treatment, all donors received antianxiety drugs, 3 took antidepressants, and supportive psychiatric therapy was concomitantly provided to all subjects. The average treatment period was 53.3 months. Regarding subject outcomes, 3 donors achieved remission, and the other 3 continued treatment. All subjects showed improvement in Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Conclusion It is important to accurately diagnose postoperative psychiatric complications and provide long-term treatment in close coordination with transplant surgeons.