A novel and simple formula to predict liver mass in porcine experimental models.

A primary limitation in hepatic surgery is leaving a remnant liver of adequate size and function. Experimental models have been designed to study processes of liver injury and regeneration in this context, yet a formula to accurately calculate liver mass in an animal model is lacking. This study aims to create a novel and simple formula to estimate the mass of the native liver in a species of pigs commonly used in experimental liver surgery protocols. Using data from 200 male weanling Landrace-Large White hybrid pigs, multiple linear regression analysis is used to generate the formula. Clinical features used as variables for the predictive model are body mass and length. The final formula for pig liver mass is as follows: Liver mass (g) = 26.34232 * Body mass (kg) - 1.270629 * Length (cm) + 163.0076; R2 = 0.7307. This formula for porcine liver mass is simple to use and may be helpful in studies using animals of similar characteristics to evaluate restoration of liver mass following major hepatectomy

Somatostatin and the 'Small-For-Size' Liver

"Small-for-size" livers arising in the context of liver resection and transplantation are vulnerable to the effects of increased portal flow in the immediate postoperative period. Increased portal flow is an essential stimulus for liver regeneration. If the rise in flow and stimulus for regeneration are excessive; however, liver failure and patient death may result. Somatostatin is an endogenous peptide hormone that may be administered exogenously to not only reduce portal blood flow but also offer direct protection to different cells in the liver. In this review article, we describe key changes that transpire in the liver following a relative size reduction occurring in the context of resection and transplantation and the largely beneficial effects that peri-operative somatostatin therapy may help achieve in this setting