Abstract:
Purpose: Measurement of small bowel length (SBL) is a common procedure in gastrointestinal surgery. When
required, repeated SBL measurements can be done during surgery. Our aim was to evaluate whether these repeated
measurements differ in SBL results.
Methods: Small bowel length was measured during laparotomy in 28 patients between ligament of Treitz and
caecum, using a standard measure, two times in each patient consecutively by two different surgeons from the antimesenteric
border of the bowel.
Results: The median age was 33 (19–67) including 18 male. There were 16 healthy donors for living related liver
transplantations. Second measurements, performed immediately after the first measurements, significantly shortened
the measured SBLs in the same patients (580 ± 103 vs. 485 ± 78 cm, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: During surgery, repeated length measurements caused contractions in the small bowel and this
resulted to a significant decrease in the SBL. This should be keep in mind to prevent mismeasurements.
