[Small intestine transplant for intestinal failure in children]

Parenteral nutrition is the main treatment of intestinal failure. In cases with irreversible intestinal failure and life-threatening complications to parenteral nutritional treatment, transplantation of the intestine may be considered. Post-transplantation survival has increased markedly during the latest years and is now > 80% after one year and > 50% after five years. Recipients of an isolated intestinal transplantation have a better survival rate than recipients of a combined liver-intestinal-transplantation.