Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a state of malabsorption resulting from physical or functional loss of large portions of the small intestine, and is the most common cause of intestinal failure. The average length of a human’s small intestine is between 3 and 8 m, depending on the type of measurements made (surgical, radiologic, or autopsy); SBS occurs when less than 200 cm of small bowel remains. SBS may be congenital (intestinal atresia) or acquired. Physical losses usually occur from surgical resection for Crohn disease (CD), vascular insufficiency, radiation, malignancy, trauma, or volvulus. The site of intestinal resection helps to determine the degree of intestinal capacity. Functional losses, on the other hand, are less common and occur in the setting of a nonfunctioning, but intact, small intestine. Examples include radiation enteritis, congenital defects, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This review addresses the epidemiology, pathophysiology and pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, treatment, complications, and prognosis of SBS. A figure shows sites of intestinal nutrient absorption. A table lists potential complications of SBS in patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN).
This review contains 1 highly rendered figure, 1 table, and 67 references.