[Malnutrition in a patient with short-bowel syndrome]

The short bowel syndrome is a relatively frequent complication of extensive resection and by reducing the absorption capacity the function of the gut is markedly impaired. An important part of postoperative care is therefore to ensure nutrition of these patients. The authors demonstrate on the case-history of a 40-year-old patient after repeated revision of the abdominal cavity on account of adhesions the development of severe malnutrition after jejunotransversoanastomosis. As the small intestine was not resected (concurrent blind loop syndrome), the patient was indicated for surgery. After surgery all complaints disappeared and the nutritional status improved.