Care transition from a pediatric intestinal rehabilitation program to adult care and the risk of all-cause mortality: A retrospective cohort study
Topic overview
Retrospective study of 46 intestinal failure patients found significantly higher mortality in those transitioning to adult care (33%) versus remaining in pediatric programs (5%), with median time to death of 12 months post-transition. Findings highlight critical need for specialized adult intestinal rehabilitation programs and structured transition protocols.
Key takeaways
- Patients with intestinal failure who transitioned to adult care had 33% mortality vs 5% in those who remained in pediatric programs (P=0.02)
- Median time to death after transition was only 12 months, suggesting critical vulnerability during the early post-transition period
- No differences in medical complexity, nutrition status, or comorbidities explained the mortality gap between transition groups
- Structured transition programs with specialized adult intestinal rehabilitation expertise are urgently needed to improve survival outcomes
- 68% of patients had short bowel syndrome; 30% remained on parenteral nutrition at age 18, highlighting ongoing medical complexity
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