Small bowel length in inflammatory bowel disease

Unlabelled Small intestinal length has a particular significance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A determination of intestinal length by a standardised and simple technique is of interest for surgical decision making in primary and recurrent disease and in the evaluation and management of postoperative malabsorption. The aim of the present investigation was to analyse intestinal length in patients with IBD and define a standard method for this measurement.Material and methods Two consecutive series of patients. Crohn's disease (n = 279) and ulcerative colitis (n = 315) and a control group (n = 77) underwent standardised intra-operative small intestinal length measurement.Results Small intestinal length correlated to weight and height and was less in women than in men (P Conclusion Small bowel length correlated to weight, height and sex. Patients with CD had a significantly shorter small intestine at first laparotomy, compared with U.C. patients and controls. In CD-patients there was no difference between the anatomical subgroups.