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Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS)

Malabsorption resulting from extensive surgical resection or congenital absence of small bowel, typically when <200 cm of functional small intestine remains, often requiring parenteral nutrition.

Also: Intestinal failure, SBS

Outcomes depend on remaining anatomy: jejunum-colon (preserved), jejunum-ileum (intermediate), jejunostomy (highest PN dependence). Intestinal adaptation over 1-2 years can restore enteral autonomy in some. Management includes oral rehydration with isotonic glucose-electrolyte solutions, hyperphagia, antimotility agents, and GLP-2 analog teduglutide which promotes mucosal growth. Plasma citrulline correlates with enterocyte mass and predicts PN weaning potential.

How each textbook covers it

  • Krause and Mahan's Food and the Nutrition Care Process, 16th ed. — Chapter 28

    Causes include Crohn disease, mesenteric ischemia, volvulus, radiation enteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Clinical course depends on length and segment of remaining bowel and presence of colon. Nutrition support progresses from parenteral nutrition through enteral to oral as the bowel adapts (1 to 2 years). Adjunctive therapies include teduglutide (GLP-2 analog) to stimulate mucosal growth.

  • Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 12th ed. — Ch 79: Short Bowel Syndrome

    Outcomes depend on remaining anatomy: jejunum-colon (preserved), jejunum-ileum (intermediate), jejunostomy (highest PN dependence). Intestinal adaptation over 1-2 years can restore enteral autonomy in some. Management includes oral rehydration with isotonic glucose-electrolyte solutions, hyperphagia, antimotility agents, and GLP-2 analog teduglutide which promotes mucosal growth. Plasma citrulline correlates with enterocyte mass and predicts PN weaning potential.

Related terms

Citrulline, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Intestinal Failure, Parenteral Nutrition, Parenteral nutrition, Teduglutide