title: A surgical perspective of the outcome of a multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation program for children with short bowel syndrome in The Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2001, a multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation program, prompted by a nationwide collaboration on intestinal failure (Dutch Registry for Intestinal Failure and Intestinal Transplantation), was started for children who have short bowel syndrome (SBS). This study evaluates this program, focusing on children who have SBS after extensive bowel resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic data, general information on disease status, and outcome of intestinal rehabilitation of patients treated between 2001 and 2009 were collected. Outcome measures were intestinal autonomy, intestinal and/or liver transplantation, and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten boys and 9 girls, median gestational age 36 weeks, were treated. Eight were referred, 3 times as many as in the period 1991-2000. Causes of SBS were intestinal atresia (3), gastroschisis (2), volvulus (9), necrotising enterocolitis (3), and strangulation (2). The median remaining small-intestinal length was 35 cm (range, 10 to 70 cm). In 14 patients the ileocecal valve was still present. In all patients at least 25% of colon was still present. The median follow-up was 25 months (range, 50 days to 9 years). After a median of 138 days (range, 41 days to 11 years) on total parenteral nutrition, 16 patients (84%) reached intestinal autonomy. Central venous catheter-related complications occurred in all; there were liver function disorders in 68%, and a failure to thrive in 26%. One patient underwent intestinal lengthening. No patient needed intestinal transplantation, but one underwent liver transplantation for intestinal failure-associated liver disease. Overall mortality was 11%: those 2 patients died of abdominal sepsis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This specialized intestinal rehabilitation program led to intestinal autonomy in 84% of the patients who had SBS. None of the patients underwent an intestinal transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schurink
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.b.f.hulscher@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: J B F
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hulscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Isala Clinics, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuijs
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heineman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E H H M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Rings
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome