What is the normal small bowel length in humans? first donor-based cohort analysis.
Normal small bowel length (SBL) has been reported within a wide range, but never studied in a cohort of either pediatric or adult deceased donors. Between 5/2006 and 2/2011, SBL was measured in all grafts procured for intestinal transplantation at a single center and used for either isolated intestinal transplant (15) or multiorgan transplants (5) employing a standardized method. SBL was the only not significantly different variable among pediatric and adult donors divided by age 16. Furthermore, donors were classified in 3 groups: group 1: Height < 70 cm, group 2: 71-150 cm and group 3: ≥ 151 cm. Mean age was: 0.58, 5.6, 22.01 years, respectively. Mean height and weight were 65.8, 123.2, 166.1 cm (p = 0.001) and 6.9, 23.8, 65.2 kg (p = 0.001), for each group. The SBL by group was: 283.0, 324.7, 356.0 cm, remaining as the only nonsignificant variable (p = 0.06), in contrast to BMI, BSA (p = 0.001). The SBL/height ratio: 4.24, 2.7, 2.12 (p = 0.001; rho: -0.623) or SBL/BSA ratio was 8.36, 3.7, and 2.03, respectively (p : 0.0001; rho: -0.9). SBL does not increase with growth like other anthropometric variables. The SBL/height ratio significantly decreases with growth; however, bowel diameter increases, which needs further evaluation.
Instituto de Trasplante Multiorgánico, Unidad de Soporte Nutricional, Rehabilitación y Trasplante Intestinal, Hospital Universitario - Fundación Favaloro, Capital Federal, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ggondolesi@ffavaloro.org
G
G
Gondolesi
D
D
Ramisch
J
J
Padin
H
H
Almau
M
M
Sandi
P B
PB
Schelotto
A
A
Fernandez
C
C
Rumbo
H
H
Solar
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D055815:Young Adult