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Intestinal adaptation after small bowel resection in human infants
Lucas A McDuffie1, Brian T Bucher, Christopher R Erwin
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|June 21, 2011
Summary
Human infants show intestinal adaptation after massive small bowel resection (SBR), similar to animal models. Villus height and crypt depth increase, validating SBR animal models for research.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Massive small bowel resection (SBR) in animal models triggers intestinal adaptation, increasing villus height and crypt depth.
- Understanding this adaptation in human infants is crucial for managing short bowel syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if human infants exhibit similar morphologic changes in the small intestine after SBR as observed in animal models.
- To compare small intestine mucosal morphology before and after SBR in infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of clinical data and pathological specimens from infants undergoing SBR for necrotizing enterocolitis.
- Comparison of small intestine mucosal morphology in the same patients at the time of SBR and ostomy takedown.
Main Results:
- Infants demonstrated significantly greater villus height and crypt depth in ostomy specimens compared to SBR specimens.
- Paired specimens showed an average increase of 31.7% in villus height and 22.1% in crypt depth post-SBR.
- A positive correlation was found between the extent of intestine resected and the percentage change in villus height.
Conclusions:
- Small intestine mucosal adaptation in human infants following SBR mirrors findings in animal models.
- These results support the use of animal models for studying the molecular mechanisms of intestinal adaptation after SBR.
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