The Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute

Programs

Intestinal Failure and Transplantation

What Is Intestinal Transplantation?

Introduction |  Causes |  What Is It |  Cases for Transplant | 
Candidates |  Types |  Expectations |  Needed for Evaluation | 
Expectations for Evaluation |  History

ntestinal transplantation is currently the only alternative to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for irreversible intestinal failure.

Intestinal failure is the inability to absorb nutrition or fluids from the intestinal tract, leading to the need for other means of feeding, such as parenteral feeding.

In intestinal transplantation, a patient receives either a small intestine from an organ donor or a smaller piece taken from a relative willing to donate. Other organs may be transplanted along with the intestine, if necessary.