J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 86(6): 762-769, 1985

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Original article

THE EVALUATION OF THE NUTRITIONAL CONDITION AND THE ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY IN LONG FOLLOWED-UP INFANTS WITH SHORT BOWEL SYNDROME

The nutritional conditions and absorptive capacity of nine infants with short bowel syndrome were investigated during a long follow-up period from one and half years to 14 years and 7 months. The length of the residual small intestine ranged between 13 and 90cm. The nine infants had normal meals at home and did not suffer from persistent diarrhea. Most of the infants were thin. Nutritional conditions, for example, serum protein, triglycelyde, vitamins, trace elements and plasma amino acids, were kept relatively well, and there were no symptoms of deficiency. The results of D-xylose absorption test had gradually improved but the absorptive capacity of sugars and amino acids observed by potential differences were within the normal limits or slightly subnormal except one infant. This indicated that the absorptive capacity of sugars and amino acids per a given area of the residual small intestine did not increase. From our examination the critical length of intestine might be in the neighborhood of 50cm. The infants left with less than 50cm of small intestine seem to have grown up normally but malabsorption of fat, sugars and bile acids have continued for many years.

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