Short bowel syndrome

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Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Short bowel syndrome is condition of food malabsorption related to disease or the surgical removal of a large portion of the small intestine.

Small intestine insufficiency

When areas of the small intestine are removed by surgery, there may not be enough surface area left in the remaining bowel to absorb enough nutrients from food.

This condition is particularly likely to develop when one-half or more of the bowel is removed during surgery. Risk factors include diseases of the small intestine that may require surgical intervention, such as Crohn's disease. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a common cause of this syndrome in infants.

Review Date: 10/13/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.