Surgical rehabilitation of short and dysmotile intestine in children and adults

Abstract

Aims. This is a descriptive study aiming to compare outcomes of intestinal rehabilitation surgery among pediatric and adult intestinal failure (IF) patients with either primary intestinal motility disorders or short bowel syndrome (SBS) treated by our nationwide program. Methods. Medical records of IF patients (n = 31, 71% children) having undergone autologous intestinal reconstructions (AIR) (n = 25), intestinal transplantation (ITx) (n = 5), or being listed for ITx (n = 2) between 1994 and 2014 were reviewed. Results. At surgery, median age was 3.4 (interquartile range, 1.0–22.1) in SBS (n = 22) and 16.5 (3.2–26.7) years in dysmotility patients (n = 9) who received median 60% and 83% of energy requirement parenterally, respectively. Median small bowel length was shorter in SBS than dysmotility patients (34 versus 157 cm, p < 0.001). Following AIR, none of the dysmotility patients achieved permanent intestinal autonomy, whereas 68% of SBS patients weaned off parenteral nutrition (PN) (p = 0.022) and none required listing for ITx. Five dysmotility patients who underwent ITx achieved intestinal autonomy. Regarding both AIR and ITx procedures, no significant difference in PN weaning was observed between the two subgroups. At last follow-up, 3.3 (0.6–8.0) years postoperatively, median plasma bilirubin was 6 (4–16) µmol/l, while liver biopsy showed fibrosis (Metavir stage 1–2) in 50% and cholestasis in 8%. Proportion of PN energy requirement had reduced significantly (p = 0.043) among PN-dependent SBS (n = 7) but not among dysmotility patients (n = 5). Overall survival was 90%. Conclusion. AIR surgery was beneficial among selected SBS patients, whereas in intestinal dysmotility disorders, permanent PN weaning was only achieved by ITx.

Key Words:

• intestinal failure
• short bowel syndrome
• motility disorders
• autologous intestinal reconstruction
• intestinal transplantation

Acknowledgement

This study was funded by the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation and the Finnish Pediatric Research Foundation.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.