The couple facing the expectation of a liver transplant

Abstract

This research had as objective to know the couple’s interaction when one of the partners is in the waiting list for hepatic transplant. Six couples, with ages between 24 to 77 years old, living together for at least four years and in the waiting list for at least six months were interviewed. The speeches were analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis. Results showed that: entering the waiting list for transplant was lived as a moment of great tension and anxiety, which persists during all the waiting time; their needs were to have the transplant as soon as possible and to deal with financial difficulties; patience, understanding, confidence, love and religious faith were pointed as resources to deal with the situation; the marital relation was shaken, in some cases the partners became closer to each other and, in other, they became more apart; projects and expectations for the future showed to be imprisoned by the expectation of the transplant. We have concluded that there is a need for interdisciplinary care in order to provide better life quality for the couple.