Influence of repeated measurements on small bowel length.
OBJECTIVE
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 anti-mesenteric 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.
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Servet
S
Karagul
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Cuneyt
C
Kayaalp
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Serdar
S
Kirmizi
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Ali
A
Tardu
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Ismail
I
Ertugrul
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Kerem
K
Tolan
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Fatih
F
Sumer
Anatomy; Bariatric surgery; Metabolic surgery; Short bowel syndrome; Small intestine