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Programs
Intestinal Failure and Transplantation
Not Everyone with Intestinal Failure Needs a Transplant
Introduction | Causes | What
Is It | Cases for Transplant |
Candidates | Types | Expectations | Needed
for Evaluation |
Expectations for Evaluation | History
 ome patients with intestinal failure are best managed on long-term TPN (intravenous nutrition). In other cases,
the small amount of intestine that remains can be trained to work "extra hard," and a patient may be able to live
without TPN or a transplant.
Working with your own doctors, our team will develop an individualized approach for you to optimize the therapy
that best meets your needs - bowel rehabilitation, management on TPN, or transplantation. Here are four recent
cases that demonstrate our comprehensive approach to patient care.
Case 1 - Bowel Rehabilitation
Anna had most of her small intestine removed for Crohn's disease with fistulas. At 35 years old, she was
malnourished and on TPN. We were able to close her fistulas and rehabilitate her remaining intestine. She is now
off TPN and maintains her nutrition without a transplant.
Case 2 - Management on TPN
Kathleen lost her small bowel to blood clots. She had lived on TPN for three years but had repeated infections in
her catheters and was developing liver disease. However, she was not a good candidate for an intestinal
transplant. With changes in her catheter care and her TPN formula, she has been able to remain on TPN, and her
liver is now healthy, and her jaundice has disappeared.
Case 3 - Intestinal Transplantation
Miguel's entire small bowel clotted and had to be removed. He had tubes draining his stomach and
duodenum and could not leave his house. Since his transplant, he has returned to an active life and eats
normally.
Case 4 - Bowel Rehabilitation / Intestinal Transplantation
Kaya was born with an anomaly leaving her with a dysfunctional small bowel. She was treated with TPN but
developed liver failure as a result. She underwent a combined liver/intestinal transplant to save her life. Now, she
is at home, eating and developing normally.
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