Abstract
Introduction
Based on the importance of bowel length in massive bowel resection, the aim of this study is to evaluate the small bowel length in patients who had laparotomy.
Methods
In this study, 100 consecutive adults (age ≥ 20 years old) who underwent laparotomy were studied. Patients with peritonitis, intra-abdominal infection, bowel obstruction and ascitis were excluded. For comparison we used 30 cadavers as control group after case control matching. Under general anesthesia and after opening of abdomen, bowel length was measured by an umbilical tape from Treitz’ ligament to ileocecal valve, antimesentrically. Data such as age, sex, height, weight and bowel length were measured and analyzed.
Results
Between May 2007 and December 2007, 100 patients (54 males and 46 females) aged 20–43 years were studied. The small bowel length was 459.6 ± 78.47 cm in patients and 632.5 ± 88.9 cm in cadavers (P < 0.01). Small bowel length was 452.2 ± 79.36 cm in males and 468.2 ± 80.44 cm in females (P = NS). Jejunum length was 140.2 ± 45.4 cm in males and 138.6 ± 40.2 cm in females (P = NS). Ileum length was 286.3 ± 34.7 cm in males and 289.9 ± 37.8 cm in females (P = NS).
Conclusion
In this study, we report a measurement of the length of small bowel more accurate than the estimation given by the classical anatomic books. In our study, there was no correlation between bowel length and age, gender, height and weight.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashalatha PR (2006) Digestive system. In: Ashalatha PR (ed) Text book of anatomy and physiology for nurses. Jaypee brothers, New Delhi, p 196
Chewal JP (1995) Anatomy of Jejunum and Ileum. In: Chewal JP (ed) Surgery of esophagus, stomach and smal intestine. Little Brown, Phildelphia, pp 784–788
Drake R, Vogl W, Mitchell A (2005) Abdomen. In: Drake R, Vogl W, Mitchell A (eds) Gray’s anatomy for students. Elsevier, Philadelphia, p 273
Ellis H (2002) The abdomen and pelvis. In: Ellis H (ed) Clinical anatomy. Blackwell, Berlin, p 82
Evers B (1999) Small intestine. In: Evers B (ed) Schwartz Principles of surgery. McGraw Hill, Philadelphia, pp 1217–1257
Fanucci A, Cerro P, Fraracci L, Ietto F (1984) Small bowel length measured by radiography. Abdom Imaging 9:349–351
Gary S, Arthur H, Afuses Jr (1990) Small bowel in Crohn disease. Am J Gastroenterol 8:1037–1039
Guzman Ig, Fitch LL, varro RL et al (1977) Small bowel length in hyporlipidemia and massive obesity. Am J Clin Nutr 30:1006–1008
Heylings D, Spence R, Lelly B (2007) Abdomen. In: Heylings D, Spence R, Lelly B (eds) Integrated anatomy. Elsevier, Philadelphia, p 167
Larsen WJ (2002) The abdominal cavity and abdominal viscera. In: Larsen WJ (ed) Clinical anatomy. Saunders, Philadelphia, p 23
Moore K, Dalley A (2006) Abdomen. In: Moore K, Dalley A (eds) Clinically oriented anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, p 265
Snell R (2008) The abdomen: Part II—the abdominal cavity. In: Snell R (ed) Clinical anatomy by region. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, p 243
Tortora G, Grabowski S (2003) The digestive system. In: Tortora G, Grabowski S (eds) Principles of anatomy and physiology. Wiley, Denver, p 881
Weser E (1979) Nutritional aspects of malabsoption. Short gut adaptation. Am J Med 67:1014–1020
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hosseinpour, M., Behdad, A. Evaluation of small bowel measurement in alive patients. Surg Radiol Anat 30, 653–655 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0398-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0398-2