[Experience on enteral nutrition in short bowel syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the significance, effects and precautions of enteral nutritional support in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS).


METHODS
Clinical data of 40 SBS patients who were maintained on enteral nutrition (EN) for more than 2 years were retrospectively summarized. The cost of EN and parenteral nutrition (PN), the PN-free duration, and the current nutritional status of these patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
The mean length of the remnant small bowel was (50.8 +/- 29.4) cm. All the patients currently lived on high-carbohydrate low-fat diet supplemented with EN (3284.0 +/- 1408.8) kJ/d, the cost was significantly lower than that of PN (P < 0.01). Mean PN-free duration was (29.1 +/- 9.2) months for these patients. The current defecation frequency and volume were (3.4 +/- 1.7) times/d and (720.2 +/- 350.3) ml/d, respectively. As for the patients' nutritional index, mean BMI, blood hemoglobin and serum albumin level were (17.8 +/- 3.2) kg/m(2), (113.3 +/- 14.8) g/L and (35.0 +/- 4.1) g/L, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Enteral nutrition is a cost-effective method for maintaining the nutritional status in patients with short bowel syndrome, but proper management in clinical practice to avoid diarrhea or other complications should be ensured.
Gong
Jian-Feng
JF
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, China.
Zhu
Wei-Ming
WM
Li
Ning
N
Li
Jie-Shou
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome