title: [Small bowel transplantation as a treatment option for intestinal failure in children and adults].
abstract: Small bowel transplantation for intestinal failure is no longer an experimental procedure, but an accepted treatment for patients where total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy for intestinal failure is unsuccessful. Early referral for screening for small bowel transplantation should be considered in patients with permanent intestinal failure who have occlusion of more than 2 major veins, frequent line-related septic episodes, impairment of liver function or an unacceptable quality of life. With the increased experience in post-transplant patient care and newer forms of induction (thymoglobulin, IL-2 receptor antagonists) and maintenance (tacrolimus) therapies, the 1-year graft survival has increased to 65% for isolated and to 59% for liver/small bowel transplantation and is further improving. Rejection, bacterial, fungal and viral (Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr-virus) infections, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and graft versus host disease are the most common complications after intestinal transplantation. Although most of the long-term survivors are TPN-independent and have a good quality of life, the risk of the procedure and long-term adverse effects ofimmunosuppressive medication limits small bowel, or liver/small bowel transplantation only to patients with severe complications of TPN therapy.
authors.affiliation: Afd. Maag-, Darm- en Leverziekten, Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen. g.dijkstra@int.umcg.nl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: E H H M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Rings
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: van Dullemen
authors.forename: C M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bijleveld
authors.forename: N E L
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Meessen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karrenbeld
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hofker
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Porte
authors.forename: A H J
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Naber
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ploeg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology; D016562:Parenteral Nutrition, Home Total; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome