Suitability to be considered for Intestinal Transplant
Patients with poor intestinal function who cannot be maintained on intravenous feedings are potential candidates for transplantation. Sometimes, most of the bowel has been surgically removed to treat a disease. This produces the “short-gut syndrome”, which is the most common cause of intestinal failure. Sometimes, the entire intestine is present, but it is unable to absorb enough fluids and nutrients.
Diseases leading to intestinal transplantation include:
- Short-gut syndrome caused by volvulus, gastroschisis, trauma, necrotizing enterocolitis, ischemia, or Crohn’s disease
- Poor absorption caused by microvillus inclusion, secretory diarrhea, or autoimmune enteritis
- Poor motility caused by pseudo-obstruction, aganlionosis (Hirschprung’s disease), or visceral neuropathy
- Tumors or cancer such as desmoid tumors, or familial polyposis (Gardner’s disease)
Many children and adults do well on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and transplantation may not be indicated for these patients. Transplantation, however, is a potentially life-saving option for patients with intestinal failure who cannot tolerate TPN or who present with limited venous access. Because patients’ survival rates are better after isolated bowel transplants, this is the preferred type of transplant. However, combined intestinal-liver transplants (or cluster transplants) are the best options for patients who developed liver failure on TPN or for patients who have large, local tumors that can only be removed by removing several organs.