Child-Pugh Score Calculator
Assess the severity of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis using the Child-Pugh scoring system. This calculator helps determine prognosis and survival rates.
What is the Child-Pugh score used for?
The Child-Pugh score assesses the severity of chronic liver disease, particularly cirrhosis. It predicts prognosis and survival rates, guides treatment decisions including liver transplant eligibility, and stratifies patients into three classes: A (mild disease, best prognosis), B (moderate disease), and C (severe disease, worst prognosis). Higher scores indicate more advanced disease and increased mortality risk.
What do Child-Pugh Classes A, B, and C mean?
Class A (5-6 points): Well-compensated cirrhosis, 1-year survival ~100%, 2-year survival ~85%. Elective surgery generally safe. Class B (7-9 points): Significant functional compromise, 1-year survival ~80%, 2-year survival ~60%. Surgery carries moderate risk. Class C (10-15 points): Decompensated cirrhosis, 1-year survival ~45%, 2-year survival ~35%. High surgical risk, consider transplant evaluation.
How accurate is the Child-Pugh score?
Child-Pugh score has been validated for decades and reliably predicts short-term mortality in cirrhosis. Limitations include subjective assessment of ascites and encephalopathy, doesn't account for renal function (MELD score does), and ceiling effect at score 15. For transplant allocation, MELD score is now preferred in many regions, but Child-Pugh remains valuable for operative risk assessment and clinical classification.
What factors affect the Child-Pugh score?
Five parameters: Bilirubin (liver excretory function), Albumin (liver synthetic function), INR (coagulation/synthetic function), Ascites (fluid retention severity), and Encephalopathy (hepatic neurological impairment). Each scored 1-3 points. Total 5-15 points. Score can change with disease progression, treatment response, or acute decompensation. Regular reassessment helps track disease trajectory.
When should I use Child-Pugh vs MELD score?
Use Child-Pugh for: Operative risk stratification, clinical classification of cirrhosis severity, initial assessment. Use MELD for: Liver transplant prioritization (used by UNOS), predicting 3-month mortality, more objective (no subjective variables). MELD better for renal dysfunction. Both validated; choice depends on clinical context. Many centers use both scores complementarily.