Treatment of short bowel syndrome is based on the adaptation of dietary and nutritional supplements to compensate for the decrease in absorption of vitamins and minerals caused by the missing part of the intestine, so that the patient is not malnourished or dehydrated. Complete bowel recovery, to properly absorb nutrients and control weight loss can take up to 3 years.
However, the severity of this syndrome depends on the part of the intestine that has been removed, which may be part of the large or small intestine and the amount of intestine extracted.
- In general.
- The nutrients most susceptible to malabsorption are vitamins A.
- D.
- E.
- K.
- B12 and minerals such as calcium.
- Folic acid.
- Zinc or iron.
- For this reason.
- The patient initially feeds on nutritional supplements.
- Directly intravenously and aims to prevent and treat problems such as developmental delay.
- In the case of children.
- Anemia; bleeding and bruising; osteoporosis; muscle pain and weakness; heart failure; and even life-threatening dehydration.
Nutrient malabsorption depends on the affected part, with
In some cases, to compensate for the lack of nutrients, a small bowel transplant may be needed to cure intestinal insufficiency and avoid relying on total parenteral nutrition for life.
Normally, for the first 5 days after surgery, food is kept in the vein called Total Parenteral Nutrition, so that the intestine can heal at rest. After this period, when diarrhea is less common, tube feeding also begins to slowly stimulate stomach and bowel movements, decreasing the volume of food in the vein, for about 2 months.
After about 2 months of recovery, in most cases, the patient is already able to feed through the mouth making small meals, up to 6 times a day; however, the nasogastric tube diet is maintained to ensure calorie and nutrient intake to maintain and restore nutritional status, until the patient can eat without a tube, a process that can take 1 to 3 years.
However, in some cases, the patient may spend the rest of his life relying on parenteral nutrition and nutritional supplementation to prevent malnutrition and problems such as anemia.
Recovery after surgery to remove part of the intestine can be achieved by a large cut in the abdomen or laparotomy, and can take at least 2 to 6 hours and the patient may need to stay in the hospital to recover for a period 10 days to 1 month at least. This type of surgery is very risky because the intestine contains many bacteria that can cause serious infections, and is even more delicate, whether the patient is a child or an older person.