What are the goals in managing short bowel syndrome (SBS)? What are ways these goals are reached?

• Providing adequate nutrition and hydration.
• Preventing any complications as they arise.
• Decreasing or eliminating the need for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and intravenous (IV) hydration.
• Maximizing the use of the existing bowel and stimulating intestinal adaptation.

Describe the basics of GI tract anatomy and how it affects a short bowel syndrome (SBS) patient.

Patients with SBS will have varying degrees of bowel remaining. Depending upon the bowel's location and length, that remains physically or functionally will determine the ability to wean from parenteral nutrition. Digestion breaks down food into small bits that can be absorbed through the intestinal lining to reach the rest of the body. It begins in the mouth with the chewing and grinding of the teeth and continues into the stomach. The stomach secretes acid to breakdown food further. In some patients with SBS, there is gastric hypersecretion of acid because the small intestine portion that usually signals to stop acid production is resected or removed. Food then moves into the small intestine, which consists of three sections: 1. Duodenum: Short (about 10 inches), but an important section of the small bowel. The section in which bile and pancreatic enzymes empty to aid in digestion. Bile is made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile is needed for the digestion of fats and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. The pancreas also produces bicarbonate, which is vital in neutralizing the acid produced by your stomach. This is important for patients with high output who may require bicarbonate supplements due to large bicarbonate losses. The duodenum is also the primary location for the absorption of iron, calcium, and folate. 2. Jejunum: The second portion of the small bowel, about 6-10 feet in an adult. Many nutrients and minerals, such as magnesium and sodium, as well as many medications, are absorbed in the jejunum. 3. Ileum: Third and final portion of the small intestine, about 10-12 feet in length. This is where the last portion of nutrients and minerals will be absorbed. Important to note for SBS patients is that vitamin B12 is exclusively absorbed in the terminal ileum. If this portion of the ileum is not intact, then supplementation with B12 will be required. Ileocecal valve: This is the valve at the end of the ileum that separates the last portion of the ileum from the first portion of the colon known as the cecum. The valve helps to keep nutrients in the ileum longer for absorption, and then once the contents have moved past the valve, it keeps contents from spilling back into the small intestine. The Colon: The colon (about 5 ft. in length) serves to absorb the excess fluid and electrolytes left from the small intestine, particularly sodium and potassium. The colonic bacteria also breakdown leftover starch and fiber in the diet into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which can be used as fuel for the intestinal cells. If a SBS patient has a colon, then the dietary recommendations will differ compared to a SBS patient without a colon. To see an easy step-by-step process, see our digestion handout download.

What is short bowel syndrome (SBS)?

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is when the body can't absorb enough fluids and nutrients because part of the small intestine is missing or isn't working correctly.

What causes short bowel syndrome in adults?

In general, short bowel syndrome in adults is a result of surgical resection of the small intestine due to:

• Complications from Crohn's disease
• Volvulus
• Mesenteric Ischemia or other vascular injury or disease
• Thrombosis (blood clots)
• Post-operative complications, particularly weight loss surgeries
• Certain cancers, such as neuroendocrine tumors
• Trauma
• Radiation damage (radiaton enteritis)
• Intussusception: One section of either the large or small intestine folds into itself, much like a collapsible telescope.

What are signs and symptoms of short bowel syndrome?

• Diarrhea or high ostomy output
• Dehydration
• Gas and stomach pain
• Bloating
• Poor weight gain
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Food sensitivities
• Kidney stones (due to high oxalate levels)
• Ulcers (due to gastric hypersecretion of acid, see SBS complications section)
• Heartburn
• Malnutrition: Results when the body does not get the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ function.

Symptoms will vary based on the underlying diagnosis. The above symptoms are in relation to malnutrition and malabsorption.

How is short bowel syndrome diagnosed?

Multiple tests may be used to help diagnose short bowel and rule out other gastrointestinal disorders. Tests also serve to determine your nutritional status. 1. Medical History 2. Physical Exam: During the physical exam, clinicians look for signs of malnutrition such as decreased muscle mass and other signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. 3. Bloodwork: Checks levels of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. Will also check certain levels to assess liver function and blood counts. 4. Fecal Fat Test: This tests for fat in the stool, a sign of malabsorption and common in short bowel patients. 5. Abdominal X-Ray: This may be used to view dilated bowel and assess possible bowel obstruction. 6. Upper GI Series: This is also known as a barium swallow. It uses x rays and fluoroscopy to help diagnose problems of the upper GI tract. Fluoroscopy is a form of x-ray that makes it possible to see your internal organs' motion on a monitor. This test can help show strictures (narrowing) or dilation (widening) of areas of your intestine. 7. Abdominal CT Scan: This may be used to assess bowel obstruction and other intestine changes. 8. Endoscopy or Colonoscopy: These may be used to assess for inflammation inside your intestine as well as the length of your bowel.

What are 3 common ostomies you may have after a bowel resection?

1. Jejunostomy: This is when the second portion of the small intestine, the jejunum, is brought to the abdominal wall and empties outside of the body into a bag. 2. Ileostomy: This is when the third portion of the small intestine, the ileum, is brought to the abdominal wall and empties outside of the body into a bag. 3. Colostomy: This is when the colon is brought through the abdominal wall and empties outside of the body into a bag. To read more about ostomies, please visit our page here or go to the United Ostomy Associations of America website.

Crohn's Disease in Adults

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which your immune system recognizes the lining of your intestine as foreign. This causes the immune system to attack the intestinal epithelium, causing inflammation. Crohn’s disease usually follows a pattern of repeating cycles of intermittent flares in which the condition worsens and symptoms are present. Then a period of remission in which inflammation is controlled and symptoms are absent. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and can be disabling.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

• Fatigue

• Unintentional weight loss

• Anal pain

• Arthritis: Typically in the larger joints and is most active when bowel symptoms are active.

• Mouth sores: Usually found between the gums and lower lip, or along the sides of the tongue.

• Eye inflammation (uveitis or scleritis): Can cause eye pain, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light.

Diagnosis: Crohn’s disease is confirmed through an intestinal biopsy taken during a colonoscopy. The specimen is studied microscopically for specific histological features, namely clusters of inflammatory cells called granulomas.

Treatment:

• The first step of treatment is to manage Crohn’s with medications.

  • Anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., corticosteroids, 5-aminosalicylates, sulfasalazine), can help to counteract and prevent inflammation.

  • Immunomodulators (e.g. azathioprine, methotrexate, and 6-mercaptopurine) and biologic response modifiers, (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab), can reduce the immune response to attack the intestines.

• In some instances, the chronic inflammation and scarring from Chrohn's can lead to complications that require surgery.

  • Surgery may result in massive resection and short bowel syndrome.

  • In this case, you may need to seek care from an intestinal rehabilitation and transplantation center to optimize your nutritional status and remaining intestine.

Common complications from Crohn's requiring resection of the bowel:

• Stricture: Narrowing of the intestinal wall

• Perforation: This occurs when the intestinal wall is punctured or torn.

• Hemorrhage: This is excessive bleeding.

• Abscess formation: This is a localized collection of infection

• Fistula: This is an abnormal pathway leading from one part of the intestine to another portion of intestine or to another organ in the body. In some cases a fistula may also lead outside the body onto the skin.

Volvulus

A volvulus occurs when part of the intestine is twisted or rotates on itself and the mesentery. The mesentery is the supportive tissue that anchors the intestine to the abdomen's back wall and contains the essential blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves to supply the intestine. When the intestine twists, it creates a bowel obstruction that cuts off the intestine’s blood supply, therefore affecting bowel function and ultimately resulting in death to the bowel if not treated promptly.

Bowel necrosis (death) results in the requirement of massive bowel resection (removal). This often leaves an individual with short bowel syndrome and the inability to maintain adequate nutrition by mouth. The cause of the twisting is not known.

Symptoms may include:

• Severe abdominal pain

• Nausea and vomiting

• Constipation

• Bloody stools

• Abdominal distention.

Diagnosis is based on clinical picture, physical exam, abdominal x-ray, CT scan, and/or upper/lower GI barium series.

Treatment is surgical with correction of the volvulus and resection of any necrotic (dead) bowel. If the resection is massive, referral to an intestinal rehabilitation and transplantation center may be indicated.

Intestinal Ischemia (Mesenteric Ischemia)

Ischemia is a general term that means an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body. The intestine is supplied by various blood vessels and is a highly vascularized organ.

There are several different causes of ischemia in the intestine:

1. Arterial thrombosis (blood clot): The artery called the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) supplies the majority of the small intestine and the first portion of the colon up to the splenic flexure, the bend between the transverse colon (2nd part) and descending (3rd part) colon. When a blood clot in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) creates a blockage, it stops the delivery of oxygen to the intestine, and results in the death of the organ.

2. Adhesions: Adhesions are scar tissue that form from previous trauma or surgery. In some cases, adhesions can trap the intestine and its vessels, leading to ischemia.

3. Embolus: In some cases, a blood clot can travel from another location in the body and become lodged in an intestinal vessel, leading to intestinal ischemia and necrosis. This is common in individuals with atrial fibrillation and heart arrhythmias.

4. Other possible causes of ischemia may be due to diseases of the blood vessels or overactive blood clotting disorders (hypercoagulable states).

Symptom: Severe abdominal pain is usually the presenting symptom. You may also experience fever, diarrhea, and nausea/vomiting.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis is based on history, CT scan, and/or angiography. Bloodwork may also reveal abnormal cell counts and levels.

When a blockage occurs, the necrotic (dead) intestine must be removed, leaving the individual with a short bowel, which is insufficient to provide the essential nutrients required to sustain life. Individuals usually will be placed on parenteral nutrition and referred to an intestinal rehabilitation and transplantation center to optimize nutrition and receive further treatment.

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs, aka Carcinoid Tumors)

A neuroendocrine tumor (NET) begins in the specialized cells of the body’s neuroendocrine system. These cells can be found in many organs of the body, and they carry messages from the nervous system to the endocrine system, ultimately causing the release of hormones. Hormones are substances that regulate many functions in our body, such as blood pressure, digestion, and heart rate. NETs are always malignant (cancerous) tumors but are slow-growing. They are most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract, lung, and pancreas. Depending upon the location of the tumor, determines the signs and symptoms an individual may experience. Additionally, tumors can be functional or non-functional tumors. Non-functional tumors do not produce hormones, so they may not cause any symptoms unless they grow large enough to cause an issue, such as a blockage in the intestine. When NETs are in the GI tract, common signs and symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Nausea/vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Changes in stool color (gray or whitish color)
• Weight loss
• Blood in stool

Radiation Enteritis

Radiation enteritis is damage to the lining of the intestinal tract caused by radiation therapy. Radiation is used as a cancer treatment and functions by using high-powered x-ray to kill cancer cells, but the issue is that it can also damage healthy cells. In radiation enteritis there is damage to the cells that line the intestinal tract. Who is at risk? Individuals who have had radiation to areas around their abdomen or pelvis, such as with:

• Cervical cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Colon and rectal cancer

Gastroparesis

The literal translation of gastroparesis is "stomach paralysis." It is a condition in which the motility of the stomach is either abnormal or absent and results in delayed stomach emptying.

Symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating
• Getting full quickly
• Heartburn
• Upper abdominal pain

Diagnosis:

• Gastric emptying study: A nuclear medicine test in which you ingest some type of food (usually an egg sandwich) which contains a radioactive tracer to monitor how long it takes for food to leave your stomach. A delay in emptying indicates gastroparesis.
• Gastroduodenal manometry: This test uses a specialized tube to measure the contractions of you stomach and upper portion of your small intestine, the duodenum. Usually the test will run in a fasted state and then while you are eating to monitor stomach contractions.
• Upper endoscopy: This is when a small tube with a pin-point camera at the end is advanced down your throat and into your stomach. While this cannot diagnose gastroparesis, it can help rule out other possible causes of upper abdominal pain and other symptoms you may be having, such as a gastric ulcer.
• SmartPill®: This is a capsule that can measure temperature, pH, and pressure changes as it travels through your digestive tract. It can monitor the rate at which things are moving through your system.

Treatment:

• Diet modification: Working with a nutritionist is important for individual's with gastroparesis.
• Medications: The purpose of medication is to help increase stomach emptying, however, the medications that do exist often have unwanted side effect profiles. Speak with your team about options.
• Endoscopic Options: A balloon dilator may be positioned to engage the pylorus (opening from stomach to duodenum) and dilated (expanded) to 15 or 20 mm. The pylorus may also be injected with botulinum toxin (Botox) to relax the pyloric muscle. Stomach emptying may often improve following these strategies used separately or together, but relief of symptoms is inconsistent.
• Surgical options- Gastric pacemaker: Uses electrical stimulation to enhance gastrointestinal contractile activity. The pacemaker is surgically implanted under the skin and is connected to electrodes placed on the stomach wall.

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (CIPO)

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (CIPO) is a rare condition that can affect all segments of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by failure of the movement of intestinal contents due to the inability to generate suitable motor patterns, either due to a deficit in the neuropathic (nerve) or myopathic (muscle) forces.

Commonly, in adults, it is secondary to neuromuscular diseases such as scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, bronchial carcinoma, or amyloidosis. In other cases, it may be a primary disease that selectively affects the smooth muscle or enteric nerve plexuses in which it may be a degenerative or inflammatory process.

Rarely, pseudo-obstruction arises acutely in a condition known as Ogilvie’s syndrome, and is concurrent with non-gastrointestinal disorders such as myocardial infarction, infection, or non-operative trauma. This syndrome is characterized by acute colonic dilation, pain, and abdominal distention.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain

• Distention

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Constipation

• Early satiety (fullness)

Diagnosis:

• Manometry: The gold standard for diagnosis as it measures the contractions of the intestinal tract and can help to localize the functioning areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Manometry can help evaluate functional areas prior to any surgical intervention or creation of a stoma.

• Gastric emptying studies: Direct, noninvasive measurements of liquid or solid gastric emptying to assess the function of the stomach.

• Full-thickness biopsy: Full-thickness biopsies are useful in the diagnosis of autoimmune or mitochondrial etiology for chronic intestinal pseudo obstruction and can get a better understanding of abnormalities of the enteric nervous system.

Treatment:

• Nutritional Support: The majority of patients will require nutritional support, often requiring parenteral nutrition (PN).

• Prokinetics: These medications help to increase the motility, or movement of contents through the intestine. Examples include erythromycin, octreotide, prucalopride, and tegaserod.

• Antibiotics: Poor motility can result in the overgrowth of bacteria in the intestine. If you have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), an antibiotic may be prescribed to help treat your symptoms.

• Surgical: A decompressing gastrostomy or jejunostomy may be beneficial to help decompress the stomach or intestine in individuals with CIPO.

• Small Intestine Transplant: This may be indicated in patients who have PN dependency and are in PN failure. It is important to evaluate the presence or absence of gastric or colonic dysfunction, so the decision can be made whether to proceed with an isolated or multivisceral transplant.

Complications from Bariatric Surgery (Weight-loss Surgery)

Bariatric and gastric bypass surgery are procedures used to help people lose weight. The downside to these procedures is that there is a risk of complications, many of which can lead to massive bowel resection and short bowel syndrome. In these cases, it may leave an individual with the need for parenteral nutrition (PN) and further treatment at an intestinal rehabilitation or transplantation center. Complications after bariatric surgery that may require bowel resection include:

• Obstructions due to adhesions
• Internal hernias
• Volvulus
• Incarcerated incisional hernias
• Mesenteric ischemia
• Complications in the bypassed intestine

Desmoid Tumors and Gardner's Syndrome

• Desmoid tumors are benign (not harmful) tumors. Still, they are infiltrative (grow into healthy tissue) and locally invasive, entrap the mesenteric vasculature, and can lead to obstructions and fistulas.

• Desmoid tumors are generally unresponsive to standard chemotherapeutic agents; thus, complete surgical removal of the intestine is often required. This can leave an individual with a short bowel that is insufficient to support nutritional needs.

• If an individual requires additional nutritional support, referral to an intestinal rehabilitation and transplantation center may be beneficial. The team at the center can determine the best course of treatment, including rehabilitation or transplantation.

Gardner's Syndrome

• Desmoid tumors are commonly associated with Gardner’s syndrome. Gardner’s syndrome is a form of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) that is characterized by multiple colorectal polyps and various types of tumors, both benign (not harmful) and malignant (harmful).

• Individuals with Gardner’s will commonly contract different types of tumors, such as osteomas (bone tumor), fibromas (tumor of connective tissue), lipomas (tumor of fat tissue), and desmoid tumors (connective tissue).

• It is not uncommon for Gardner’s patients to undergo a total proctocolectomy (removal of colon, rectum, and anus) to treat the primary disease and prevent progression to cancer.

• Apart from a total protocolectomy, resections for desmoid tumors in the intestine can be performed, but multiple resections can lead to short bowel syndrome and insufficient absorption.

• Small bowel desmoids may also be treated with radiation, which can lead to radiation enteritis in the remaining bowel and impede absorption.

• If an individual is unable to maintain nutritional status and requires additional nutritional support, referral to an intestinal rehabilitation and transplantation center may be beneficial. The team at the center can determine the best course of treatment, including rehabilitation or transplantation.

Gastric Acid Hypersecretion

• When there is a significant loss of a portion of the small bowel, the signal to stop stomach acid secretion is lost, resulting in excess secretion of stomach acid.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

SIBO occurs when the intestinal bacteria that is usually 'in-check' grows out of control. This may leadi to symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, gas, and/or nausea. In a regular bowel, the bacteria is kept 'in-check' by multiple mechanisms, including:

• Intestinal motility: Movement of contents through the intestine helps to ensure bacteria doesn't build-up. Many SBS patients have impaired motility, leading to SIBO.
• Stomach acid: Usually your stomach acid helps to kill some bacteria and ensures it doesn't overgrow. Many SBS patients require anti-acid medications to control gastric acid hypersecretion; thus, it allows more bacteria to grow.
• Ileocecal valve: Usually, the ileocecal valve prevents backflow of bacteria from the colon to the small intestine.

What are complications associated with short bowel syndrome?

1. Malnutrition: This is from the intestine's inability to absorb the nutrients needed to grow and develop properly.

2. Electrolyte Imbalances and Dehydration: This is due to high output and diarrhea.

3. Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

4. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

5. Gastric Hypersecretion

6. Kidney stones

7. Steatorrhea (fat in stool)

8. Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease

9. Acidosis

10. Long-Term TPN Complications: Infection, Blood Clots, and Liver Damage

Dehydration

It is common for individuals with short bowel to have high output and diarrhea, leading to dehydration.

Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration:

Electrolyte Imbalances

Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals and compounds that help your body do much of its work.

What are some of the most important electrolytes?

• Sodium (Na+)
• Potassium (K+)
• Magnesium (Mg +2)
• Calcium (Ca +2)
• Chloride (Cl-)
• Phosphorous/Phosphate (PO4-)

With excessive diarrhea, electrolyte imblances can occur very quickly and are very serious.

Diagnosis: A simple blood test can check your electrolyte values.

Treatment: If you require replenishment of electrolytes, your team may reccomend certain oral rehydration solutions, intravenous (IV) fluids, or IV supplements to bring levels back to normal. If you are on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), your team may be able to make adjustments in the TPN formula.

Kidney Stones

• If you are a short bowel syndrome patient with a colon, you may be at risk for forming oxalate-calcium kidney stones.
• Oxalate is a substance that is found in plant-based foods. When these foods are broken down, oxalate is released as a by-product. Normally, oxalate binds to calcium in the intestine and is pooped out.
• In individuals with short bowel who have fat malabsorption, the fat binds with the calcium, leaving the oxalate free in the colon, where it is reabsorbed into the bloodstream.
• Back in the body, the oxalate reaches the kidney, binds with calcium, and can form kidney stones.

Prevention includes avoiding foods high in oxalate, such as:

• Tea
• Chocolate
• Nuts
• Leafy green vegetables
• Berries
• Wheat germ/bran

Other ways to help avoid kidney stones:

• Stay hydrated.
• Increase the amount of calcium in the diet, if tolerated.
• Take calcium supplements if recommended by your team.
• Avoid oxalate-rich foods.

Steatorrhea

Steatorrhea is when dietary fat remains in your stool after passing through the small intestine unabsorbed.

Why does this occur in a short bowel patient?

• Fats usually combine with bile salts created by your liver and are reabsorbed in your terminal ileum (the third portion of the small intestine).
• Many individuals with short bowel syndrome do not have this portion of the ileum (esp. if >100 cm or 3.3 ft. of ileum resected), resulting in the continued loss of bile salts.
• The liver, which produces the bile salts, cannot 'keep up' with production, and the supply of bile salts becomes depleted.
• The result is that fats pass through the intestine unabsorbed.
• This leads to a greasy, foul-smelling stool that floats and is usually grey in color.

How is this treated?

Diet

• It will depend on your situation. Sometimes, simple dietary changes, such as a low-fat diet, can help to solve the problem.

Bile Acid Sequestrants (Binders)

• If you have an intact colon, the bile salts that were not absorbed by the ileum may reach the colon and irritate its lining.
• This can lead to increased diarrhea.
• In these cases, your team may recommend certain medications to help decrease diarrhea caused by the bile salts, called bile salt sequestrants.
• An example of this type of medication is cholestyramine. It reduces the bile salt diarrhea by increasing the removal of bile acids from the body.
• The downside of these medications is that they can interfere with the absorption of essential things, like fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids.
• Your team will closely monitor you to ensure you maintain your nutritional status.

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies will vary depending on the length and location of intestinal resection/ portion of your intestine that is missing. In particular, if the ileum is missing, the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, are often insufficient.

Common deficiencies may include:

Vitamin A: Deficiency can lead to issues with night vision.

Vitamin D: Deficiency can lead to problems with proper bone formation and growth.

Vitamin E: Deficiency may present as loss of voluntary muscle coordination (known as ataxia), tingling sensations (paresthesia), or visual disturbances.

Vitamin K: Deficiency can lead to prolonged bleeding and easy bruising.

Another common deficiency is vitamin B12 since it is only absorbed in the terminal ileum, the final portion of the small intestine. You may require supplementation of this and many other vitamins and minerals.

Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disorders

It is common for individuals with short bowel syndrome to have bone disease due to malnutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, long-term TPN use, and medications (such as the use of steroids for underlying conditions). Metabolic bone disease may occur on a spectrum, including:

• Osteomalacia (caused by severe vitamin D deficiency)
• Osteopenia
• Osteoporosis

Acidosis

Acidosis results when there is too much lactic acid in the bloodstream. In some patients with short bowel syndrome, they are not able to digest carbohydrates well. The result is that bacteria in the intestine breakdown the undigested carbohydrate, which creates lactic acid. The acid enters the bloodstream, and if in large enough quantities, acidosis results. Signs and Symptoms:

• Confusion
• Altered mental status
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech

Helpful Downloads from Transplant Unwrapped

Sign-Up or Log-In to Access: 1. Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) and Intestinal Rehabilitation Handbook. 2. The Digestive System: A brief overview of the important parts of the digestive tract and how they relate to short bowel. 3. Short Bowel Syndrome At-a-Glance for Adults. 4. The Best Fluids for Intestinal Patients.

UVA Nutrition Website

University of Virginia Nutrition resource webpage with numerous downloads and information on short bowel syndrome and nutrition.

Transplant Unwrapped: Learn From Others

Learn From Others: Read stories, watch interviews, and listen to audio from numerous members of the intestinal community on a variety of topics. Useful for This Section: Learn from Others- Patient Q & A- Special Edition: Living with Short Bowel

Transplant Unwrapped: Support Programs

Support Programs: Visit the Transplant Unwrapped Support Programs page to get your questions answered, speak with others in similar situations, and feel well-supported during your medical journey.

Page References

References here.