Approach to managing short bowel syndrome

Patients with short bowel syndrome should managed by a gastroenterologist and an accredited practising dietitian as management is highly specialised.

The medical and nutritional management of short bowel syndrome depends on the segment of small bowel that has been removed, the remaining length of small bowel, and whether the patient has an intact colon.

The aim of therapy is to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and nutritional status in order to achieve a healthy body weight and a fluid output from the bowel of less than 2 litres per day.