Nutrition management of infants with surgical short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure

Appropriate nutrition recommendations are important for the successful management of the infant with an injured gastrointestinal tract postsurgery who is at risk for intestinal failure. Management strategies that can be used to augment successful adaptation and prevent liver disease are summarized in this review. These include appropriate postoperative fluid and electrolyte management, modification of parenteral nutrition to minimize intestinal failure-associated liver disease, early and aggressive enteral feeding advancement, the use of hormonal and trophic agents, prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections using ethanol lock, appropriate treatment, and prevention of pathologic small bowel bacterial overgrowth.