Factors affecting prognosis in patients with short bowel syndrome

Aim of the study is to analyse physiopathological implications of massive intestinal resection and factors affecting prognosis in patients with short bowel syndrome. Twenty massive intestinal resections were performed. The causes of bowel resection were: intestinal infarction (11 cases), Crohn's disease (5 cases), small bowel volvulus (4 cases). All intestinal resections were more than 50-60% of the intestinal length. In eighteen patients intestinal anastomosis was performed immediately. In all the patients postoperative therapy with parenteral nutrition (PN) was performed. The operative morbidity and thirty-day mortality were respectively 30% (6 cases) and 35% (7 cases). The diarrhea was the dominant symptom. The average weight was 20% lower compared to the initial weight. The length of residual small bowel and type of anastomosis strongly affect survival of patients underwent massive intestinal resections. Parenteral nutrition (PN) has great importance in postoperative treatment. A useful treatment, in severe short bowel syndrome, can be small bowel transplantation.