Successful management of ultra short bowel syndrome in an elderly patient

An 83-year-old woman presented emergently with a 1-week history of increasing abdominal pain and vomiting. Imaging confirmed an incarcerated incisional hernia containing viable small bowel. Laparotomy revealed profound ischaemic insult extending beyond the hernial contents, affecting virtually the entire small bowel, consistent with acute superior mesenteric artery thrombosis. The patient underwent resection of the entire small bowel except for 20 cm of the jejunum and 15 cm of the terminal ileum. Her duodenum and large bowel were unaffected. Despite her age, comorbidities and only 35 cm of the remnant small bowel, this patient made a remarkable recovery. She transitioned from total parenteral nutrition dependence in an acute hospital setting to being discharged into the community, relying on partial parenteral nutrition two times per week in a home setting.