Reliability of radiographic measurement of small intestinal length

• Published in: Colorectal disease Vol. 6; no. 5; pp. 327 - 329
• Main Authors: Shatari, T., Clark, M. A., Lee, J. R., Keighley, M. R. B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.09.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Bowel length; Crohn Disease - diagnosis; Crohn Disease - surgery; Female; Humans; Intestine, Small - anatomy & histology; Intestine, Small - diagnostic imaging; Intestine, Small - surgery; Intraoperative Period; Male; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Intraoperative; Probability; Radiography; radiological measurement; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Sampling Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; short bowel syndrome; Short Bowel Syndrome - prevention & control
• ISSN: 1462-8910; 1463-1318
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2004.00603.x

Objective  The capacity for absorption of nutrients after small intestinal resection is related to the remaining length of intestine, and short bowel syndrome has major implications. Accurate pre‐operative determination of bowel length may be useful in conditions where further resection of small bowel is contemplated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of small bowel length measured by barium follow‐through (BaFT) examination. Patients and methods  Twenty‐two patients underwent both intra‐operative measurement of small bowel length, and BaFT examination where length was measured using an opisometer. Results  The difference between operative and radiological measurement (mean ± standard deviation: 15·7 ± 16 9%) was least in those with the shorter small intestine (overall variation: r = 0·703, P < 0·01, regression coefficient: −0·118, intercept: 15·1). There was no difference in whether BaFT was performed pre or postoperatively. Conclusion  Assessment of small bowel length by BaFT radiography is accurate, particularly in those with shorter small bowel lengths.