Ever wonder why the intestines are as long as they are? Besides providing a way for waste material to exit the body, intestines play a key role in the digestion of food. As digested food travels through the intestines water and other nutrients are absorbed, causing this largely liquid substance to become solid.
Patients who have had large portions of their intestines removed often develop what is known as short-bowel syndrome. Because the intestines are now much shorter than normal, digested food moves through them more quickly, resulting in diarrhea and nutritional deficiencies. Intestinal transplantation is a last resort because of the risk for complications and the limited success of this procedure. For this reason, scientists continue to work to develop ways to either expand the surface area of the intestines or improve the function of the remaining intestines.
Researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Omaha recently reviewed the medical records of 37 patients with short-bowel syndrome, who had undergone surgery to improve intestinal function or expand intestinal surface area. They hoped to identify the most effective procedures and determine which conditions are most likely to improve with these procedures.
One fourth (six) of the ostomy patients had surgery to reconnect their intestines and close the stoma. This worked best when there was still some colon remaining between the stoma and rectum, because it increased the length of time digested food remained in the colon. Four of these patients were able to either decrease the amount of IV (intravenous) nutrition they were receiving or stop it altogether.
Other procedures included lengthening the intestine, removing diseased bowel, relieving obstruction, and procedures designed to slow the movement of digested food through the intestine. Eighty-six percent of the procedures performed resulted in improvement, however, only 50 percent of the procedures intended to prolong movement through the intestines were found to be successful. These researchers believe their study indicates that these surgical procedures are a promising alternative to intestinal transplantation, but they caution that patients should be selected carefully, to ensure that the most appropriate procedure is used.
Source: Mediconsult.com
via Vancouver Ostomy Highlife
Metro Halifax News, November 2000 |
