Success with intestinal failure: from adaptation to transplantation

Evaluation of the outcomes of short bowel syndrome and indications for intestinal transplantation

Long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) and intestinal transplantation (IT) are life-saving therapies for patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). However, indications and timing of these therapies are controversial. In this study we aimed to evaluate the indications for IT. Forty-two patients, each with <100 cm of small bowel, were divided into three groups according to the length of remnant: group I patients (n = 18): colon plus 50 to 100 cm of small bowel (SB); group II patients (n = 14): colon plus <50 cm of SB; and group III patients (n = 10): <50 cm of SB without colon. One-year mortality rates for groups I, II, and III were 50%, 72%, and 100%, respectively. All group I survivors developed intestinal adaptation, returning to regular oral feedings at 1 year. Interestingly, three of four surviving patients in group II developed adaptation and were fed an oral short bowel diet (SBD) at 1 year. None of the group III patients survived >1 year, dying due to multiorgan failure in the early postoperative period or from sepsis within 1 year. We conclude that patients with a very short bowel are candidates for IT when stable. If the colon is intact, however, regardless of small bowel remnant length, the patient should be given a chance to develop intestinal adaptation before making the decision for permanent PN or IT.

Parenteral nutrition-associated liver complications in children

Parenteral nutrition is a life-saving therapy for patients with intestinal failure. It may be associated with transient elevations of liver enzyme concentrations, which return to normal after parenteral nutrition is discontinued. Prolonged parenteral nutrition is associated with complications affecting the hepatobiliary system, such as cholelithiasis, cholestasis, and steatosis. The most common of these is parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC), which may occur in children and may progress to liver failure. The pathophysiology of PNAC is poorly understood, and the etiology is multifactorial. Risk factors include prematurity, long duration of parenteral nutrition, sepsis, lack of bowel motility, and short bowel syndrome. Possible etiologies include excessive caloric administration, parenteral nutrition components, and nutritional deficiencies. Several measures can be undertaken to prevent PNAC, such as avoiding overfeeding, providing a balanced source of energy, weaning parenteral nutrition, starting enteral feeding, and avoiding sepsis.

Pharmacotherapy and growth factors in the treatment of short bowel syndrome

A review of the pharmacologic substances and growth factors that have been studied experimentally and administered clinically for the management of short bowel syndrome is presented. The medical management of short bowel syndrome is multifaceted. In the acute phase, efforts focus on fluid and electrolyte management and the reduction of gastric acid output. As enteral feeding is initiated, antimotility and antisecretory agents may be effective in reducing gastrointestinal losses. Additional modalities of management, including nutrients and growth factors, may be directed at maximizing absorptive function beyond that which occurs with intestinal adaptation. Continued research aimed at further elucidating the process of intestinal adaptation may allow us to use the various peptides and hormones that act as growth factors for the bowel mucosa. Knowledge gained from these studies combined with gene therapy techniques will result in the permanent enhancement of intestinal function beyond the normal adaptation process, eliminate the dependence on total parenteral nutrition, and avoid the need for intestine transplantation.

Indications for pediatric intestinal transplantation: a position paper of the American Society of Transplantation

Parenteral nutrition represents standard therapy for children with short bowel syndrome and other causes of intestinal failure. Most infants with short bowel syndrome eventually wean from parenteral nutrition, and most of those who do not wean tolerate parenteral nutrition for protracted periods. However, a subset of children with intestinal failure remaining dependent on parenteral nutrition will develop life-threatening complications arising from therapy. Intestinal transplantation (Tx) can now be recommended for this select group. Life-threatening complications warranting consideration of intestinal Tx include parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease, recurrent sepsis, and threatened loss of central venous access. Because a critical shortage of donor organs exists, waiting times for intestinal Tx are prolonged. Therefore, it is essential that children with life-threatening complications of intestinal failure and parenteral nutrition therapy be identified comparatively early, i.e. in time to receive suitable donor organs before they become critically ill. Children with liver dysfunction should be considered for isolated intestinal Tx before irreversible, advanced bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis supervenes, for which a combined liver and intestinal transplant is necessary. Irreversible liver disease is suggested by hyperbilirubinemia persisting beyond 3-4 months of age combined with features of portal hypertension such as splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, or prominent superficial abdominal veins; esophageal varices, ascites, and impaired synthetic function are not always present. Death resulting from complications of liver failure is especially common during the wait for a combined liver and intestinal transplant, and survival following combined liver and intestinal Tx is probably lower than following an isolated intestinal transplant. The incidence of morbidity and mortality following intestinal Tx is greater than that following liver or kidney Tx, but long-term survival following intestinal Tx is now at least 50-60%. It is probable that outcomes shall improve in the future with continued refinements in operative technique and post-operative management, including immunosuppression.

Nutritional support for the patient with short-bowel syndrome

Short-bowel syndrome refers to the clinical consequences that follow extensive resection of the small bowel. As a result of resection, malabsorption of macro- and micronutrients occurs. The prognosis after resection depends on the extent and location of resection, the presence of a colon, the function of the residual intestinal mucosa, and the extent of intestinal adaptation. Intestinal adaptation is influenced by the presence of intraluminal nutrients and various trophic peptides and hormones. This article discusses the dietary management of the patient with short-bowel syndrome and the recent literature on growth factors (ie, growth hormone and glutamine) and small-bowel transplantation.