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Medical Update and Potential Advances in the Treatment of Pediatric Intestinal Failure

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology (SR Orenstein, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) and intestinal failure are chronic malabsorption disorders with considerable nutritional and growth consequences in children. Intestinal failure occurs when the functional gastrointestinal mass is reduced even if there is normal anatomical gastrointestinal length. A number of management strategies are often utilized to achieve successful intestinal rehabilitation and maintain adequate nutrition to avoid intestinal transplant. These strategies include minimizing the effect of parenteral associated liver disease, limiting catheter complications, and treating bacterial overgrowth in the remaining small intestine. In addition, there continues to be significant research interest in enhancing intestinal adaptation with targeted therapies. The purpose of this review is to discuss current perspectives and to highlight recent medical advances in novel investigational therapies.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Disclosure

Dr. B. Carter has been a board member for Baxter Healthcare and Coram Home Perinatal Nutrition, and has received honoraria from Nutricia and Baxter Healthcare, payment from manuscript preparation from Coram, royalties from Up To Date, and payment for development of educational presentations and travel and accomodation reimbursement from Baxter Healthcare, Coram, Academy of Healthcare Learning, and Nutricia; Dr. C. Cole has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health and payment for the development of educational presentations from NASPGHAN Foundation; Dr. N. Youssef has been an employee with stock options for NPS Pharmaceuticals; Dr. A. Mezoff reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, NJ, USA

    Nader N. Youssef

  2. NPS Pharmaceuticals, Bedminster, NJ, USA

    Nader N. Youssef

  3. Digestive HealthCare Center, Hillsborough, NJ, USA

    Nader N. Youssef

  4. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Adam G. Mezoff & Conrad R. Cole

  5. Cincinnati Children’s Intestinal Care center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Adam G. Mezoff & Conrad R. Cole

  6. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Beth A. Carter

  7. Texas Children’s Pediatric Intestinal Rehabilitation Program, Houston, TX, USA

    Beth A. Carter

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  1. Nader N. Youssef
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  2. Adam G. Mezoff
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  3. Beth A. Carter
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  4. Conrad R. Cole
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Correspondence to Nader N. Youssef.

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Youssef, N.N., Mezoff, A.G., Carter, B.A. et al. Medical Update and Potential Advances in the Treatment of Pediatric Intestinal Failure. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 14, 243–252 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-012-0262-8

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