Figure 1. Patients with SBS that develop IF are said to have SBS-IF.
WHAT IS SBS-IF
Short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS-IF) is a highly complex, debilitating and life-threatening major organ failure in which patients are unable to absorb enough nutrients and fluids through the intestine. Patients have to be sustained on parenteral support (PS) – i.e. parenteral nutrition and/or intravenous fluids (PN/IV).1–3
SBS-IF normally occurs as a result of extensive surgical resection of the small intestine and is defined as a remaining small bowel length <200 cm. For patients with SBS-IF, the reduction in length and function of the small intestine results in chronic intestinal failure and long-term dependence on parenteral support.1–3
DEFINING INTESTINAL FAILURE
Intestinal failure is defined as the reduction of gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients and/or water and electrolytes, such that intravenous supplementation is required to maintain health, growth, and/or survival.1
Patients with a reduction of gut absorptive function who do not require intravenous supplementation to maintain health and/or growth are said to have intestinal insufficiency.1
- Pironi L, et al. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(2):247–307.
- Hofstetter S, et al. Curr Med Res Opin. 2013;29(5):495–504.
- Kelly DG, et al. J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2014;38(4):427–37.
Figure 1. Patients with SBS that develop IF are said to have SBS-IF.
- Pironi L, et al. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(2):247–307.
- Hofstetter S, et al. Curr Med Res Opin. 2013;29(5):495–504.
- Kelly DG, et al. J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2014;38(4):427–37.
Date of preparation: May 2020 C-ANPROM/INT//7387