Nutritional support for the patient with short-bowel syndrome

Short-bowel syndrome refers to the clinical consequences that follow extensive resection of the small bowel. As a result of resection, malabsorption of macro- and micronutrients occurs. The prognosis after resection depends on the extent and location of resection, the presence of a colon, the function of the residual intestinal mucosa, and the extent of intestinal adaptation. Intestinal adaptation is influenced by the presence of intraluminal nutrients and various trophic peptides and hormones. This article discusses the dietary management of the patient with short-bowel syndrome and the recent literature on growth factors (ie, growth hormone and glutamine) and small-bowel transplantation.