Non-anatomical intestinal transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Intestinal transplantation is the only long-range treatment option for patients with intestinal failure. We report an exceptional case of isolated intestinal transplantation with the implant in a non-anatomical position.


METHODS
The patient was a thirty-eight-year-old man (60 kg weight, 180 cm height, 18.3 body mass index) with intestinal failure and home parenteral nutrition due to a short-bowel syndrome for which intestinal transplantation was indicated. The patient had a vascular malformation with the cava vein located left to the aorta, and the intestine was implanted with a 180 masculine rotation around the mesenteric axis, so that the implant s superior mesenteric artery and vein matched the recipient s cava and aorta. Postoperative follow-up was excellent and the patient was discharged after six weeks with a 10-kg gain in body weight.


CONCLUSIONS
This non-anatomical intestinal implantation of the small bowel, previously unreported, offers technical advantages over other options. Adequate intestinal function represents a unique model to prove the viability of intestinal implants in a non-anatomical position.
Charco
R
R
Service of Hepatobiliopancreatic and Transplantation Surgery, Unit of Nutritional Support, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. rcharco@vhebron.net
Malagelada
C
C
Llopart
L
L
Bueno
J
J
Bilbao
I
I
Caralt
M
M
Vilallonga
R
R
Gavaldá
J
J
Dot
J
J
Abu-Suboh
M
M
Planas
M
M
Accarino
A
A
Armengol-Miró
J R
JR
Azpiroz
F
F