title: Nutritional care and candidates for small bowel transplantation.
abstract: Twenty two children were evaluated for small bowel transplantation between 1989 and 1994. Eight were unfit for transplantation and died within three months; a raised plasma bilirubin concentration (> 200 mumol/l) predicted death from liver failure within six months (p = 0.0001). The 11 children who were not managed by a multidisciplinary nutritional care team were less well nourished at referral, had more complications with intravenous feeding catheters, and greater early mortality while awaiting transplantation (p < 0.05). It is recommended that children with chronic intestinal failure be referred for assessment early, before liver dysfunction is established.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011379:Prognosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin