Quickly calculate the Child-Pugh score to evaluate the severity of chronic liver disease, especially cirrhosis. This essential tool helps clinicians determine prognosis, guide treatment strategies, and assess surgical risk for patients with hepatic impairment. Understand liver function.
Formula:
The Child-Pugh score (also known as Child-Pugh-Turcotte score) is derived by summing points assigned to five clinical and laboratory measures of liver disease severity. Each measure is graded 1, 2, or 3 points based on its severity.
Total Score = Albumin (points) + Bilirubin (points) + INR (points) + Ascites (points) + Hepatic Encephalopathy (points)
Variable Explanations:
- Albumin: A protein produced by the liver, essential for maintaining osmotic pressure in the blood. Lower levels indicate impaired liver function.
- Bilirubin: A yellowish pigment formed during the breakdown of red blood cells. High levels suggest the liver isn't processing waste efficiently.
- INR (International Normalized Ratio): A standardized measure of blood clotting time, reflecting the liver's ability to produce clotting factors.
- Ascites: The accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, a common complication of advanced liver disease.
- Hepatic Encephalopathy: A decline in brain function that occurs as a result of severe liver disease, when the liver can no longer remove toxins from the blood.