Liver transplantation: evidence for nursing care

Abstract

Evidence-based practice is the adopted theoretical and methodological framework and the integrative literature review was the research method used for this study. This study aimed to search and evaluate evidence available in literature about scientific knowledge on nursing care to adult patients submitted to liver transplantation during the perioperative period. Lilacs, Medline and Cinahl were used for the search, which resulted in a sample of 20 scientific papers. The results evidenced publications on nursing care to prepare the patient, prevent injuries, on the importance of a documentation system, prevention and early detection of complications, as well as education on immunosuppressive therapeutics, patient education and nursing activities in the pre, intra and postoperative periods, and the nurses' role in providing nutritional and emotional support to patients and family members.