Management of short bowel syndrome

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a common cause of intestinal failure in children. Children with SBS need careful fluid management in the initial post-operative period. Children with SBS may need parenteral nutrition (PN) in the short term until enteral feeding can be established and advanced. Medical and dietetic manipulation of feeds is necessary to advance enteral feeds and wean PN. In majority of the cases, PN can be weaned off completely and children can be established on long-term enteral feeding via nasogastric tube or gastrostomy. If enteral feeding cannot be advanced, referral for non-transplant surgery or if life-threatening complications develop, intestinal transplantation may be necessary. The survival of children with SBS has dramatically improved due to the medical and surgical advances made in the last decade.