Nutritional and medical approaches to intestinal failure

Abstract

Purpose of review 

Advances in the field of intestinal failure continue to reduce mortality rates of this complex syndrome. Over the last 20 months (January 2021– October 2022), several important papers were published that relate to the nutritional and medical management of intestinal failure and rehabilitation.

Recent findings 

New reports on the epidemiology of intestinal failure have shown that short bowel syndrome (SBS) remains the most common cause of intestinal failure worldwide in both adults and children. Advances in the provision of parenteral nutrition (PN), the advent of Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analogs, and the development of interdisciplinary centers have allowed for safer and longer courses of parenteral support. Unfortunately, rates of enteral anatomy continue to lag behind these advancements, requiring greater focus on quality of life, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and management of sequalae of long-term PN such as Intestinal Failure Associated Liver Disease (IFALD), small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO), and Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).

Summary 

There have been significant advances in the nutritional and medical approaches in intestinal failure, including advances in PN, use of GLP-2 analogs, and key developments in the medical management of this condition. As children with intestinal failure increasingly survive to adulthood, new challenges exist with respect to the management of a changing population of patients with SBS. Interdisciplinary centers remain standard of care for this complex patient population.