Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been used to alleviate the shortage of available liver donors. Accurate estimation of the standard liver volume (SLV) of the living donor and recipient is crucial. Scholars of different countries established several SLV formulae from clinical data, but which formula was the most accurate for Chinese adults has remained unclear.
A research article to be published on August 28, 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, addresses this question. The research team led by Prof. Lu-Nan Yan from West China Hospital, Sichuan University evaluated reported SLV formulae using data of 76 cases of LDLT from January 2008 to April 2009.
The results demonstrated that the Chengdu formula was reliable by its applicability in LDLT. Statistical analysis showed that the Fan formula tended to underestimate SLV. The Heinemann, Urata, Vauthey, and Lee formulae overestimated SLV.
With national multicenter data in the future, the Chengdu formula for SLV can be improved. That may be applied to the evaluation of Chinese donors and recipients for LDLT.
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