1. Forego the Feeding Tube
You need a small bowel transplant if you have short bowel syndrome, where your small intestine is not large enough now due to disease or surgery. Some common diseases are Crohn's disease, gastroscheisis and desmoid tumors. If you have short bowel syndrome, sometimes you do not get the proper nutrition from your intestine and become dependent on a feeding tube or total parenteral nutrition (TPN). This may cause future infection and other diseases. Instead of getting or replacing a feeding tube, your doctor will recommend you get a small bowel transplant. If necessary, your doctor transplants other organs at the same time as the small bowel transplant, such as the pancreas or liver.
2. Intestine Installation
To perform a small bowel transplant, your doctor uses a donor small intestine and sews one end to your duodenum and the other end to your colon. Your doctor will typically make an incision to perform the small bowel transplant. Researchers are experimenting with laparoscopic surgery, where a small camera is inserted and surgery requires fewer invasive incisions.
3. Getting Back to Normal
If you are on a total parenteral nutrition (TPN), you can transfer to eating solid foods with your doctor's recommendations. After the small bowel transplant, you should regain normal bowel function. A child who has not eaten before due to short bowel syndrome will get speech and occupational therapy to ensure that she will be able to eat and drink properly after the small bowel transplant. Follow a no-added-salt diet for three months following the surgery.
4. Follow Your Doctor's Orders
Nutrition therapy becomes very important after the treatment of your small bowel transplant. Your doctor prescribes a medication that will help suppress your body's natural reaction to reject your small bowel transplant. You will have many blood tests to monitor the effects and dosage of these medications. Your doctor will order an endoscopy treatment to see how the new small bowel looks and if it is functioning properly. Continue to exercise after the surgery. Consult your doctor on the level of activity suitable for your stage of recovery.
5. Risks and Side Effects
There are risks that your body will reject the new small intestine or that the allograft won't attach successfully. Signs of rejection include increased irritability, fever, increased stools, diarrhea, bloody stools, a poor appetite, decreased energy, stomach pain or vomiting. Consult your doctor right away if you see any of these symptoms.
