Types of intestinal transplantation

A total of 185 intestinal transplantations were performed in 2008. Intestinal transplantations involve at a minimum, the transplantation of the small bowel (also referred to as the small intestine or jejunoileum) but can involve multiple organs including the liver, pancreas and stomach and in some cases, even the large intestine and the kidneys may be transplanted.

These transplants are very uncommon and are performed in small children and adults who suffer from short-gut syndrome or congenital disorders that cause malabsorption, or adults who suffer from complications from Crohn’s disease or other vascular, surgical or idiopathic problems. Generally, these children and adults have endured years of IV nutrition which in and of itself, often leads to liver disease.

Immunologic complications are more of a problem in this type of transplantation because 80% of the body’s immune cells reside in the gut.

Those interested in a more detailed review of this type of surgery and the complications associated with it, can follow this link to The New England Journal of Medicine.