Using Anthropometric and Demographic Factors to Predict Small Bowel Length to Prevent Malnutrition in Bariatric Surgery

Background: Small bowel length measurements and estimation have high clinical importance, especially in bariatric surgeries to prevent postoperation malnutrition. This study aimed to investigate the possible correlation between demographic and anthropometric factors with small bowel length. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 150 patients that were candidates of abdominal surgeries. Anthropometric factors including age, gender, weight, height, body mass index, right wrist and waist circumstance, length of the right hand 2nd and 4th fingers and 2nd to 4th finger ratio, and length of the right hemithorax were obtained. Whole length of the small bowel was measured during surgery from the ligament of Treitz to the ileocecal junction between the mesenteric and antimesenteric border of the intestine. Results: The mean small bowel length was 5.45 ± 1.62 meters and significantly lower in women compared to men (P = 0.003) and had a significant direct relationship with height (r = 0.3, P < 0.001), an inverse relationship to 2nd to 4th finger ratio (= −0.34, P < 0.001). There were the same correlations between small intestine length with height and the 2nd to 4th finger ratio in open surgeries (P < 0.05). There was a correlation between age (r = 0.33, P = 0.032), weight (r= −0.60, P, 0.001), waist circumstance (r = −0.43, P = 0.004), and length of the right hemithorax (r = −0.47, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Using demographic and anthropometric factors, we could predict the small bowel length. These results could be further used in bariatric surgeries to avoid possible malnutrition.