Enteral and parenteral nutrition in patients with short-bowel syndrome

Short-bowel syndrome is functionally defined as a state of malabsorption following loss of small bowel. Most cases occur in the neonatal period after extensive resection for necrotizing enterocolitis, or due to congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract. A smaller percentage originate later in life from surgical treatment of Crohn's disease, neoplastic disorders, or vascular events. The physiological, morphological and functional intestinal gradient determines the clinical picture leading to better tolerance of jejunal than ileal resections. The subsequent adaptation process requires enteral feeding with a different impact of specific nutrients, and is also influenced by a number of humoral mediators such as enteroglucagon, gastrin, growth factors, prostaglandins and polyamines. Nutritional management starts parenterally via a central venous line covering basic demands, substituting current losses and restoring pre-existing deficiencies. Continuous enteral tube feeding is added as soon as postoperative ileus resolves, beginning with an elemental diet, which is gradually increased first in concentration, then in quantity, and supplemented by small oral meals. Cycling of parenteral nutrition is the next step. As soon as sufficient stability is reached, the child should be discharged home under continued outpatient care. Main long-term problems comprise bacterial overgrowth, fluid and electrolyte disequilibration, nutritional deficiencies, parenteral nutrition-related liver disease, and central venous line complications such as sepsis and thrombosis.