Short bowel syndrome

Alternative names:

small intestine insufficiency

Definition:

A condition of malabsorption related to the surgical removal or disease of a large portion of the small intestine

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The lack of adequate surface to absorb nutrients from food occurs when specialized areas of the bowel are removed. When one-half of the bowel or more is removed during surgery, the risk of small bowel syndrome is great. Risk factors include diseases of the small intestine that may require surgical intervention such as regional enteritis or Crohn's disease. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a common cause of this syndrome in infants.