Scientific paper A study of the lengthening and contractility of the surgical margins in digestive tract cancer

Background: The lengthening and the contractility of the digestive tract were studied. Methods: The stretched length of specimens was measured under pull weights of 500 g and 1000 g; the contracted length was measured in natural status and in 10% formalin fixation in vitro. The lengthening or contractility rate was calculated as the length difference divided by the natural length in vivo. Results: The esophagus lengthened 16.5% at 500 g and 30.5% at 1,000 g, stomach 15% and 22.6%, small intestine 66.4% and 120%, large intestine 36% and 56%. In natural status in vitro, the esophagus contracted 44.5%, stomach 13.6%, small intestine 11.4%, and large intestine 15.6%; they continued to contract 12 to 24 hours after formalin fixation. Conclusions: The lengthening and contractility of the digestive tract should be considered in evaluating the resection margin at surgery. The length of different conditions can be converted by the formula: Y X. © 2004 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved.