title: Current status of transplantation of the small intestine.
abstract: The evolution of small bowel transplantation has been significant over the past 20 years to the point at which it can now be considered a viable and often successful option in the treatment of many forms of short bowel syndrome. A refinement of surgical techniques, improved immunosuppression, enhanced understanding of gut immunology, and better treatment and prevention of complications have contributed to a marked improvement in graft and patient survival. Whereas this transplant population is still beset with many potential complications after isolated bowel or multivisceral transplantation and long-term graft survival (like with other solid organ transplants) remains a challenge, the future holds promise for a continuation of the current positive trend of improvement in several areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. pruiz@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017741:Survivors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000639:trends*