Morbidity and mortality of short bowel syndrome in infancy and childhood.

This report concerns 59 infants and children with short bowel syndrome, most commonly caused by necrotizing enterocolitis in this study. Resection of atretic or gangrenous bowel was performed in 53 patients, tapering enteroplasty and primary anastomosis was performed in 13 patients, and temporary enterostomies were performed in 40 patients. Second-look laparotomy was useful in two of four cases of questionable bowel viability. The ileocecal valve was resected in 32 patients and remained intact in 27. The mean length of the remaining bowel was 58.4 cm. All patients received total parenteral nutrition and early enteral feedings. Home hyperalimentation was attempted when 50 per cent of the calorie intake was enteral. Intestinal adaptation required from 3 to 14 months. Frequent setbacks were related to catheter sepsis, rotavirus infection, carbohydrate intolerance, and liver dysfunction. The overall survival rate was 80 per cent with mortality due to sepsis associated with total parenteral nutrition and liver failure.