Small bowel transplantation in children.

Abstract

Small bowel transplantation has become a life-saving procedure for selected adults and children with intestinal failure who are intolerant to parental nutrition. There are few pediatric data available on the results of this procedure. In this article we review the background of intestinal transplantation, present the results from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario and the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, and discuss some future directions. The majority of successful transplants are fully functional, and these children are able to assume a normal diet.