ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Short bowel syndrome

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.

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