Clinical Research
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2006; 12(14): 2217-2222
Published online Apr 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i14.2217
Estimating liver weight of adults by body weight and gender
See Ching Chan, Chi Leung Liu, Chung Mau Lo, Banny K Lam, Evelyn W Lee, Yik Wong, Sheung Tat Fan
See Ching Chan, Chi Leung Liu, Chung Mau Lo, Banny K Lam, Evelyn W Lee, Sheung Tat Fan, Centre for the Study of Liver Disease, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
Yik Wong, Centre for the Study of Liver Disease, Department of Radiology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
Supported by Sun C.Y. Research Foundation for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery of the University of Hong Kong
Correspondence to: Professor Sheung Tat Fan, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. hrmsfst@hkucc.hku.hk
Telephone: +852-28554703 Fax: +852-28184407
Received: May 18, 2005
Revised: July 1, 2005
Accepted: August 22, 2005
Published online: April 14, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To estimate the standard liver weight for assessing adequacies of graft size in live donor liver transplantation and remnant liver in major hepatectomy for cancer.

METHODS: In this study, anthropometric data of body weight and body height were tested for a correlation with liver weight in 159 live liver donors who underwent donor right hepatectomy including the middle hepatic vein. Liver weights were calculated from the right lobe graft weight obtained at the back table, divided by the proportion of the right lobe on the computed tomography.

RESULTS: The subjects, all Chinese, had a mean age of 35.8 ± 10.5 years, and a female to male ratio of 118:41. The mean volume of the right lobe was 710.14  ± 131.46 mL and occupied 64.55% ± 4.47% of the whole liver on computed tomography. Right lobe weighed 598.90 ±117.39 g and the estimated liver weight was 927.54  ± 168.78 g. When body weight and body height were subjected to multiple stepwise linear regression analysis, body height was found to be insignificant. Females of the same body weight had a slightly lower liver weight. A formula based on body weight and gender was derived: Estimated standard liver weight (g) = 218 + BW (kg) x 12.3 + gender x 51 (R2 = 0.48) (female = 0, male = 1). Based on the anthropometric data of these 159 subjects, liver weights were calculated using previously published formulae derived from studies on Caucasian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. All formulae overestimated liver weights compared to this formula. The Japanese formula overestimated the estimated standard liver weight (ESLW) for adults less than 60 kg.

CONCLUSION: A formula applicable to Chinese males and females is available. A formula for individual races appears necessary.

Keywords: Estimated standard liver weight; Liver transplantation