Pediatr Surg Int. 2021 Jan;37(1):1-15. doi: 10.1007/s00383-020-04781-2.Epub 2021 Jan 3.

Michael E Höllwarth ¹, Valeria Solari ²

Author information

• ¹Univ. Clinic of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University, Graz, Austria. michael.hoellwarth@medunigraz.at.

²Department of Pediatric Surgery, Klinik Donaustadt, 1220, Vienna, Austria

Abstract

Short bowel syndrome in neonates is a severe and life-threatening disease after a major loss of small bowel with or without large bowel. Intestinal adaptation, by which the organism tries to restore digestive and absorptive capacities, is entirely dependent on stimulation of the active enterocytes by enteral nutrition. This review summarizes recent knowledge about the pathophysiologic consequences after the loss of different intestinal parts and outlines the options for enteral nutrition and pharmacological therapies to support the adaptation process.