The anatomical and  physiological functions become disrupted among patients who suffer intestinal failure, creating malnutrition and dehydration because of an inappropriate digestive and absorptive process. Intestinal rehabilitation is crucial for patients with short bowel syndrome or inadequate nutrition despite adequate nutritional intake.

A retrospective analysis of ten patients that either suffered major intestinal resections and/or high output fistulas submitted to intestinal rehabilitation techniques between 2008-2012. The nutritional status was studied through body mass index, serum albumin and total protein, total cholesterol and bioimpedance. The most dire cases required fistuloclysis, oral rehydration solution, vitamin and mineral supplementation; enteric output was decreased with antidiarrheal agents and inhibition of gastric secretion; high dose glutamine for intestinal mucosal hyperplasia. Antibiotics were instituted for bacterial overgrowth; muscular rehabilitation was guaranteed to counteract body fat deposition.

Six were women and four men with a median age of 50,5 years. The median hospital stay was 99 days. Three were admitted with radiation enteritis, four with a septic abdomen, two with massive intestinal ischemia and one with a strangulated hernia. A multidisciplinary approach resulted in optimized intestinal function in nine of ten patients between 1.5 to 11 months. One patient required permanent parenteral nutrition.

More studies are needed to validate the concepts applied in intestinal rehabilitation. The standard techniques applied to our patients avoided difficult and expensive logistical transfers to foreign hospitals for rehabilitation programs or intestinal elongation.