[Living with a short bowel: longer and better?]

Congenital malformations or complications of premature birth may require extensive intestinal resection which could result in short bowel syndrome. Prolonged parenteral nutrition and its complications (e.g. cholestasis, venous catheter-associated infections, thrombosis and limited vascular access) have a major impact on the quality of life of infants and comprise a great burden for parents. The merits of extensive intestinal resection are discussed from the perspective of a Dutch intestinal rehabilitation programme that provides multidisciplinary medical care and advanced surgical options, including liver and intestinal transplantation.