Patient expectations shape convalescence after major liver surgery - A prospective, randomized study.

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Surgical Outcomes Research
• Patient Psychology

Background:

• Patient expectations significantly influence postoperative outcomes.
• The impact of preoperative expectations on convalescence after liver resections remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether patient expectations regarding length of postoperative stay affect convalescence after major liver resections.
• To determine the influence of psychological traits on recovery time.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, randomized study comparing two groups of patients undergoing major liver resections (≥4 segments).
• One group was informed of an expected stay of 7-10 days (short arm), the other 12-16 days (long arm).
• Primary endpoint was time to fulfillment of objective discharge criteria; psychological traits were assessed.

Main Results:

• Patients in the short arm achieved objective discharge criteria significantly faster (8.39 days) than the long arm (12.73 days) (p=0.001).
• Actual length of stay was also shorter in the short arm (12.00 days) compared to the long arm (19.3 days) (p=0.008).
• Higher self-efficacy correlated with earlier discharge, while valuing health highly prolonged recovery.

Conclusions:

• Expectations of a shorter postoperative stay accelerate objective physical convalescence following major liver resections.
• Patient psychological factors, such as self-efficacy and health valuation, play a role in recovery duration.
• Informing patients about shorter expected stays may optimize recovery trajectories.