Langzeitparenterale Ernährung bei Kindern mit Kurzdarmsyndrom

For children with short bowel syndrome home parenteral nutrition offers a chance for long term survival. Cholestatic liver disease with subsequent fibrosis, infection of the central venous catheter and catheter related thrombosis may complicate the clinical course and may be life threatening but can often be avoided with optimal care. Enteral nutrition should be adapted as tolerated to maximize provision of nutrients via the enteral route. If parenteral nutrition cannot be weaned, surgical intestinal lenghtening procedures may improve nutrient absorption and improve enteral feeding tolerance. Intestinal transplantation should only be offered, if life threatening complications occur. Children with short bowel syndrome should be cared for by a team of experienced professionals including dieticians, pediatric surgeons, pediatricians, nurses, pharmacists and social workers, to optimize the different aspects of management and improve quality of life and survival.