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Surgical options for short bowel syndrome
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA.
Seminars in Pediatric Surgery
|May 1, 2001
Summary
Most children with short bowel syndrome adapt spontaneously, avoiding parenteral nutrition. For those who don't, surgical options promote intestinal adaptation and lengthening, offering a less invasive alternative to transplantation despite high complication rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Intestinal Adaptation
Background:
- Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a condition where the small intestine is too short to absorb adequate nutrients.
- Most children with SBS achieve spontaneous intestinal adaptation, enabling weaning from parenteral nutrition (PN).
- A subset of children with SBS do not adapt sufficiently and require interventions to improve nutrient absorption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe surgical therapeutic options for promoting intestinal adaptation and lengthening in children with SBS.
- To review the existing literature on surgical interventions for SBS.
- To evaluate the reported outcomes of surgical procedures in pediatric SBS patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of surgical techniques for short bowel syndrome.
- Evaluation of reported results from surgical interventions.
- Analysis of complication and failure rates associated with surgical procedures.
Main Results:
- Surgical procedures for pediatric short bowel syndrome carry significant complication and failure rates.
- Despite risks, surgical interventions are generally less invasive than intestinal transplantation.
- These techniques aim to enhance intestinal adaptation and length for improved nutrient absorption.
Conclusions:
- Surgical options are considered for children with SBS who cannot be weaned from parenteral nutrition.
- While associated with risks, surgical interventions offer a pathway to improved intestinal function.
- These methods provide a less invasive alternative compared to intestinal transplantation for select pediatric patients.