[Intestinal transplant in patients with parenteral nutrition at home].

Failure of the intestine, whether due to functional or anatomical reasons, constrains Parenteral Nutrition Therapy in children or adults who, as a result of intestinal resections, alterations in motility, diseases of the microvilli or other reasons, present insufficient intestine to cover their needs in terms of nutrients and fluids. Nonetheless, the maintenance of support with parenteral nutrition at home in subjects with irreversible intestinal failure is not without life-threatening complications: liver disease, recurrent sepsis and loss of central routes recommend the assessment of the indication of intestinal transplant in this group of patients. The incidence of morbidity and mortality after intestinal transplant is greater than in other transplants (kidney, liver), but the long-term survival is around 50-60%. In Spain, 7 transplants (6 children and 1 adult) have been performed so far: 3 of intestine alone, 3 of liver plus intestine and 1 mutivisceral transplant. In 4 cases, the indication for transplant was due to terminal liver disease, with the remainder being due to the loss of venous access, intractable diarrhoea and intra-abdominal desmoid tumour, respectively. Except for one girl who presented severe rejection of the graft, the rest achieved digestive autonomy. One boy has presented lymphocyte neoplasia (PTLD) after 2 years and another died after the transplant as a result of a routine liver biopsy (with functioning grafts). Of the 38 patients assessed for transplant, 18 were considered as candidates and of these, three youthful candidates for hepato-intestinal transplant (with short intestine syndrome) have died while on the waiting list and a fourth in the operating theatre prior to an attempted multivisceral transplant. Intestinal transplants must not be considered as the last desperate therapeutic option in patients with permanent intestinal failure. The type of graft, clinical expertise and the use of new inducers (Sirulimos) all contribute to the results of this therapy, in which survivors remain free from parenteral support and can take up once more their day-to-day activities, can improve over time.