3-6-9 rule (bowel)
The 3-6-9 rule is a simple aide-memoire describing the normal bowel caliber:
- small bowel: <3 cm
- large bowel: <6 cm
- appendix: <6 mm
- cecum: <9 cm
Above these dimensions, the bowel is generally considered dilated, and obstruction or an adynamic ileus should be considered.