Treatment in a Tertiary Intestinal Rehabilitation Center Improves Outcome for Children With Short Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine prognostic factors in pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome and very short bowel syndrome (defined as less than 25 cm of the bowel with or without colon). This was a retrospective, single-center, observational study that included patients with intestinal failure. Thirty-eight children with short bowel syndrome were included in the study (mean age at diagnosis = 8.4 [range = 0–48] months; female/male = 20/18); 12 children (31.6%) had very short bowel syndrome. Weaning from parenteral nutrition was achieved in 29 (74.5%) of children with short bowel syndrome but only in 4 (33%) in the very short bowel syndrome group. Positive prognostic factors associated with successful weaning from parenteral nutrition were an absolute higher length of the residual intestine, a remnant of at least some part of the colon, and treatment in an experienced center from the diagnosis. Patients with short bowel syndrome and very short bowel syndrome should be treated in a center experienced in intestinal rehabilitation.