Surgery of the small intestine.

ABSTRACT

The small intestine is the portal of entry of virtually all nutrients and is also the site of diverse inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. This field has recently attracted intense excitement as a result of novel clinical and experimental techniques, combined modality therapies, and basic science applications. This review will highlight important clinical advances in surgery for Crohn disease, short bowel syndrome, transplantation, trauma, and polyposis. Promising experimental approaches, novel methods of clinical assessment, and multimodality treatment will also be considered.