Short Bowel Syndrome and Intestinal Failure: Consensus Definitions and Overview

Short Bowel syndrome

“…It is important to differentiate between true short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure producing the clinical features of short bowel syndrome. Usually, the intestinal failure refers to a condition which results from intestinal dysmotility disorder or diseases associated with significant loss of intestinal primary function of digestion and absorption (1).…”

“…Short bowel syndrome is defined as a type of intestinal failure which results from surgical resection for a congenital defect or an acquired disease or diseases associated with loss of absorption and is characterised by the inability to maintain protein, energy, fluid, electrolyte and micronutrients balance when on a conventionally accepted normal enteral diet (1). Generally, in adults, short bowel syndrome occurs when there is a less than 200 cm of functioning small bowel (2).…”

Nutritional management of a complicated surgical patient by means of fistuloclysis

“…Less commonly, it is associated with congenital defect or loss of absorptive surface as a result of disease. 9 Normal lengths of small bowel differ significantly, from 300-850 cm. 9 Evidence suggests that patients with less than 200 cm of small bowel are likely to develop intestinal failure, a number that is of little significance in practice.…”

“…9 Normal lengths of small bowel differ significantly, from 300-850 cm. 9 Evidence suggests that patients with less than 200 cm of small bowel are likely to develop intestinal failure, a number that is of little significance in practice. 9 Although the length of remaining bowel correlates with a patient's degree of nutritional autonomy, the location of the resection and condition of the remaining bowel also play a role.…”

“…9,10 Patients usually require supplementary PN and/or IV fluid to maintain nutrition and fluid status (Table I). 11 Case study (days 66-112) This patient would have been classified as a type 2 intestinal failure while in the ICU because of his multiple fistulae and the long duration of his intestinal failure.…”