intestinal failure

Question 1

normal length of small bowel
what is considered a short bowel

Answer 1

6 - 7 metres
< 200 cm = Short Bowel

Insufficient length of small bowel to meet nutritional needs without artificial nutritional support

Question 2

most common indication for HPN is

HPN = home parenterl nutrition

Answer 2

short bowel syndrome

Question 3

complications of parenteral nutrition

Answer 3

pneumothoraxx
arterial puncture
miscplacement

Question 4

what is Teduglutide i.e. Glucagon Like peptide - 2

Answer 4

• Teduglutide is a medication that mimics the natural hormone GLP-2 and helps enhance the function of the remaining intestine in patients with intestinal failure (like those with short bowel syndrome).
  
  • It can improve nutrient absorption, making it possible for patients to reduce their dependence on TPN (total parenteral nutrition).

Weaning off TPN means that the patient can transition to more normal forms of feeding as their intestines become more functional, and this process can be supported by Teduglutide.

Question 5

treatments for chronic IF

Answer 5

Home Parenteral Nutrition
Remains treatment of choice

Intestinal Transplantation
Specific indications, long term survival lower than HPN

Glucagon Like Pepetide-2 (Teduglutide)
Can allow weaning of TPN

Bowel lengthening (Autologous Gastrointestinal Reconstruction)
- STEP (Serial Tranverse Enteric Plication)
- Bianchi (Longitudinal lengthening and tapering)