Short Bowel Syndrome

Question 1

Explain how short bowel syndrome comes about?

Answer 1

Massive intestinal resection is performed when there is intestinal failure due to ischaemia, Crohn’s or congenital defect.
The length of small bowel left is <200cm and is insufficient to meet nutritional needs without artificial nutritional support

Question 2

Which treatment for this is showing promising results?

Answer 2

Glucagon like peptide-2 treatment

Question 3

What is the major problem with shortened small intestines ending at terminal small bowel stoma?

Answer 3

Sodium and fluid depletion

Question 4

Patients who have <100cm of jejunum remaining will require?

Answer 4

Parenteral supplements of fluid and electrolytes

Question 5

Do patients with shortened SI in continuity with colon require PN?

Answer 5

Only a small proportion of these patients require parenteral supplementation

Question 6

What are patients treated with to reduce diarrhoea?

Answer 6

Colestyramine

Colonic oxalate for absorption