*Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast patient and physician perceptions of success one year after liver transplantation.

*Methods: This was a single institution, qualitative study. We conducted in-person, semi-structured interviews with liver transplant recipients one year after transplantation. We also conducted virtual interviews with transplant surgeons and hepatologists. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were iteratively analyzed for themes using grounded theory methodology. This study was approved by our institutional review board.

*Results: Twenty patients and eight of their associated caregivers were interviewed. Four transplant surgeons and two transplant hepatologists were interviewed. The patient interviews averaged 57 minutes (32-92 minutes) while the physician interviews averaged 29 minutes (22-35 minutes). The patient definitions of success focused around a few key themes. First, avoiding death and escaping the anxiety of being on the waitlist was highly valued. Equally important was the restoration of physical function and independence that had often been taken from them during their illness prior to transplant. Finally, patients noted that a liver transplant did not have to be perfect, that is free from complications, to be successful. Rather it was more important that the care team recognized and acted on any complications quickly to keep the patient on the path to recovery. Physicians, in comparison, were more likely to put success on a spectrum, with a complication-free liver transplant perceived as “most” successful and death of a patient viewed as unsuccessful. Physicians described a strong sense of responsibility for accepting a high quality organ, performing a technically excellent operation, and delivering high-quality post-transplant care.

*Conclusions: Liver transplant physicians and patients have similar overall goals for patients to regain health and physical function one year after transplantation. Physician perception of success centered around achievement of a “complication-free” course, while patient perceptions of success centered around early identification of complications and effective treatment. Understanding perceptions of success is critical as patients and physicians establish expectations prior to transplantation.

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