Management Patterns of Teduglutide Use in Short Bowel Syndrome: A Survey of 70 Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to gain real-world insights from healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding the management of adult patients with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure (SBS-IF) who received teduglutide and achieved parenteral support (PS) independence or PS volume stability for ≥12 months. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in five European countries and Canada via a self-reported questionnaire (November 2022–March 2023) among HCPs who manage patients with SBS-IF and who had prescribed teduglutide to ≥5 patients with SBS-IF receiving PS. Results: Of the 70 HCPs who completed the survey, almost all reported managing patients with SBS-IF who achieved PS independence or PS volume stability (99%, 69/70 and 97%, 68/70, respectively) and maintained the standard teduglutide dose, without changes. A total of 52 HCPs managed patients who achieved PS independence and discontinued teduglutide. Of these HCPs, 73% (38/52) anticipated that these patients would remain PS-independent, not requiring PS reintroduction. Of the remainder, 79% (11/14) estimated that ≤40% of these patients would require PS reintroduction. While many HCPs (81%, 42/52) would reintroduce teduglutide in patients who discontinued its use after achieving PS independence, none would do so for patients who discontinued teduglutide after achieving PS volume stability if a patient’s condition worsened. Conclusions: This survey found that patients with SBS-IF can achieve PS independence or PS volume stability with teduglutide treatment. However, some HCPs (27%, 14/52) believe that a proportion of patients discontinuing teduglutide after achieving PS independence will require PS reintroduction. This survey suggests that teduglutide treatment should continue uninterrupted, unless clinically indicated, but this requires confirmation in future studies.