[Current status of surgical treatment of short bowel syndrome]

Massive small bowel resection results in a short bowel syndrome, characterized by malabsorption, weight loss, diarrhea and steatorrhea. Different surgical techniques have been used to slow down intestinal transit time or to increase the area of absorption. Techniques for the deceleration of intestinal transit are reconstruction of the ileocecal-valve, antiperistaltic intestinal segments, colon interposition, recirculating intestinal loops and intestinal pacing. For increase of the area of absorption growth of neomucosa, mucosal autotransplantation, intestinal lengthening and small bowel transplantation have been performed. All these procedures are still at different experimental levels. Due to inconsistent results so far the surgical therapy of the short bowel syndrom cannot be recommended for routine use. However, some techniques offer hope of a successful surgical development.