Fatigue and Physiotherapy In Liver Transplant Recipients Fatigue and Physiotherapy

Abstract

Liver transplantation surgery is a life-saving treatment option for life-threatening end-stage liver diseases and acute liver failure. While the health-related quality of life of liver transplant recipients is related to the success of the transplantation procedure; fatigue, malnutrition, loss of muscle mass, decrease in exercise capacity, negative respiratory and metabolic changes as the findings of organ failure are among the causes of functional loss in the posttransplant period. The prevalence of the fatigue, as the frequently experienced symptom in the end-stage liver diseases, varies depending on the specific forms of liver disease and it adversely affects pre and postoperative functional levels of the patients, liver transplantation results and also survival. The severity of the fatigue decreases after the transplantation surgery, but it continues to be seen as the most compelling clinical symptom experienced during the postoperative first year. Current literature data emphasize the necessity of physiotherapy programs and active early mobilization which applied in the early period in the intensive care unit following transplantation surgery and physiotherapy and rehabilitation approaches including strength and endurance training contributes to the functional level in this population. These findings suggest that there is a need for structured physiotherapy programs in order to increase muscle strength and exercise capacity and prevent fatigue.