Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Quantifying Liver Size in Larval Zebrafish Using Brightfield Microscopy
07:35

Quantifying Liver Size in Larval Zebrafish Using Brightfield Microscopy

Published on: February 2, 2020

A formula for determining the standard liver volume in children: a special reference for neonates and infants

Isamu Saeki1, Shoji Tokunaga, Toshiharu Matsuura

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. isamu@pedsurg.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Pediatric Transplantation
|December 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

A new formula estimates the standard liver volume (SLV) in children, crucial for pediatric liver transplantation. This calculation is more accurate for neonates and infants, improving transplant outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric surgery
  • Medical imaging
  • Transplantation

Background:

  • Accurate standard liver volume (SLV) calculation is vital for successful pediatric liver transplantation.
  • Existing formulas for SLV are not well-established for pediatric populations, particularly neonates and infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the SLV in children, including neonates and infants.
  • To establish a new, accurate formula for calculating pediatric SLV.

Main Methods:

  • Liver volumes (LV) of 100 children (7 neonates, 15 infants) were measured using thin-slice helical CT scans.
  • Body surface area (BSA) was calculated from height and weight.
  • A regression formula was derived to estimate SLV based on BSA.

Main Results:

  • A novel formula for estimating SLV in children was established: SLV (mL) = 689.9 × BSA (m²) - 24.7.
  • The calculated SLV in children was significantly lower than previously reported values (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • A reliable formula for calculating SLV in pediatric patients, including neonates, has been developed.
  • This new formula is expected to enhance the precision of graft selection and improve outcomes in pediatric liver transplantation.

More Related Videos

Visualization of Vascular and Parenchymal Regeneration after 70% Partial Hepatectomy in Normal Mice11:10

Visualization of Vascular and Parenchymal Regeneration after 70% Partial Hepatectomy in Normal Mice

Published on: September 13, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Respiratory Volumes01:15

Respiratory Volumes

Respiratory volumes are crucial metrics, meticulously measured to quantify the air exchanged in and out of the lungs during various phases of the breathing cycle. These precise measurements are vital for assessing lung function, diagnosing respiratory conditions, and monitoring overall respiratory health. Each parameter provides specific insights into the mechanics of breathing and the functional capacity of the lungs.
Tidal Volume (TV) Tidal volume (TV) is the air inhaled or exhaled in a...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...