# Outcomes of Children With Short Bowel Syndrome: Experiences in a Multidisciplinary Intestinal Rehabilitation Unit Over Two Decades — GCMD Library

Jaime Tsz-wing Tsang, Adrian Chi-heng Fung , Stephen Cheuk-lam Lau,Kenneth Kak-yuen Wong

Background: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a rare but serious form of organ failure, and patients with SBS depend on total parenteral nutrition (PN) to maintain growth and development. The present study aimed to evaluate the experiences and outcomes of children with SBS managed by a multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation programme in a tertiary paediatric centre.


Methods: A retrospective single-centre analysis of all paediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of SBS between 2001 and 2022 was performed. Clinical outcomes and their predictors were extracted and analysed.


Results: Of the 64 children included in the study, 43 (67%) had extensive necrotising enterocolitis. The median bowel length was 45 cm (interquartile range (IQR) ¼18e65) and 18.9% (IQR ¼10e28.5) of the expected length based on age. Over a mean follow-up period of 8.9 years, 57 patients (89%) survived, and 50 (78%) weaned off PN. The presence of intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) (OR ¼6.375,p ¼0.02) and patients managed before the introduction of fish oil-based PN in 2007 (OR ¼5.895,
p ¼0.001) were significant predictors of mortality. There was an overall improvement in survival over time (p ¼0.003). Ultrashort bowel length was not associated with significantly higher mortality (OR ¼1.1, p ¼0.65) but was a poor prognostic factor for weaning off PN (OR ¼3.57, p ¼0.004). Among all patients who weaned off PN, two had bowel lengthening procedures and one received a glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) analogue.


Conclusions: A multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation programme offers a comprehensive approach for patients with SBS and has been shown to be effective with favourable outcomes. Improvements in the choice of PN and the development of new treatment strategies potentially improved the survival and enteral autonomy of SBS patients

Type: video · 0 min · posted 2025-03-18 Canonical: https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027 ## Chapters - [0:00](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=0) Study Overview and Key Findings ## Statements - "This is a retrospective study examining pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome" — Lizzie Lee (clinical) [0:10](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=10) - "The study included 64 pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome" — Lizzie Lee (epidemiological) [0:10](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=10) - "Patients were managed by a multidisciplinary intestinal rehab program" — Lizzie Lee (clinical) [0:10](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=10) - "The study period was between 2001 and 2022" — Lizzie Lee (epidemiological) [0:10](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=10) - "89% of patients survived" — Lizzie Lee (epidemiological) [0:22](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=22) - "78% of patients were able to wean off parenteral nutrition" — Lizzie Lee (epidemiological) [0:22](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=22) - "Survival rates improved over time" — Lizzie Lee (epidemiological) [0:22](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=22) - "Fish oil-based parenteral nutrition was introduced in 2007" — Lizzie Lee (clinical) [0:31](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=31) - "Introduction of fish oil-based parenteral nutrition improved survival" — Lizzie Lee (clinical) [0:31](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=31) - "Intestinal failure associated liver disease was a factor that affected survival" — Lizzie Lee (clinical) [0:31](https://library.globalcastmd.com/watch/outcomes-of-children-with-short-bowel-syndrome-experiences-in-a-multidisciplinary-intestinal-rehabilitation-unit-over-two-decades-10027?t=31) ## Transcript How do we improve the experiences and outcomes of children with short bowel syndrome? I'm Lizzie Lee from Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and this is an article you should know about. This retrospective study examined the experiences and outcomes of 64 pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome managed by a multidisciplinary intestinal rehab program between 2001 and 2022. They found that survival rates improved over time, with 89% of patients surviving and 78% able to wean off parenteral nutrition. Factors that improved survival included introducing fish oil-based parenteral nutrition in 2007, and whether they had intestinal failure associated liver disease. Let us know what you think in the comments below and stay tuned for more articles that you should know about. --- Not medical advice · citation policy: https://library.globalcastmd.com/ai