What is short bowel syndrome?

30 November 2023

It is when the small intestine is shorter than usual, which causes malabsorption of the various nutrients found in food since the small intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients in the digestive process.
Possible causes of short bowel syndrome include:

Surgical removal of areas of the small intestine due to:
- Cancer.
- Clots.
- Crohn’s disease.
- Various injuries.
- Congenital defects.
Other conditions such as:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis.
- Intestinal atresia.
- Hirschsprung’s disease.

Signs and symptoms Short bowel syndrome

Diarrhea.
Excrement:
- Fetid.
- Oily.
- Light in color.
Fatigue.
Weight loss.
Malnutrition.
Edema in legs and feet.
Dehydration.
Abdominal swelling.
Gases.
Abdominal pain.
Slow development in babies and children.

Diagnosis and treatment Short bowel syndrome

After the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and will request various tests to rule out other conditions and corroborate the diagnosis, such as:

Blood and stool analysis.
X-rays.
MRI.
Computed tomography.
Positron emission tomography.

The treatment to be followed will be established depending on the severity of the condition and the intensity of the symptoms but generally includes nutritional therapy, drugs, and surgery.

In ABC Medical Center Internal Medicine Department, we provide you with health care services with the highest quality and safety, from prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological conditions, both chronic-degenerative and acute, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Short bowel syndrome

Internal Medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

cun.es
topdoctors.es
cigna.com
mayoclinic.org
medlineplus.gov
msdmanuals.com
middlesexhealth.org
medigraphic.com
Zapata BY, Domínguez LAY, Castro VP, et al. Intestino corto congénito en una paciente de edad avanzada. Correo Científico Médico. 2020;24(4):1303-1314.
Camacho MJE. Síndrome de intestino corto en pediatría. Rev Med Cos Cen. 2014;71(609):153-158.
Velázquez GJ, Vargas VM. Síndrome de Intestino Corto. Rev Latinoam Cir. 2011;1(1):38-46.
Robledo-Ogazón F, Becerril-Martínez G, Hernández-Saldaña V, et al. Anastomosis colónica múltiple en el tratamiento quirúrgico del intestino corto. Una nueva técnica. Cir Cir. 2008;76(1):43-47.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is short bowel syndrome?

Signs and symptoms Short bowel syndrome

Diagnosis and treatment Short bowel syndrome

Related centers and departments Short bowel syndrome

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Short bowel syndrome