New insights and interventions for short bowel syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes recent innovations in the treatment of patients with short bowel syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS: The use of surgical procedures, growth factor stimulation, and bioengineering approaches to increase absorptive surface area of the intestine is examined. While the morphology of the intestine is clearly altered by these interventions, it is less clear that the overall function of the intestine is improved. SUMMARY: Continued innovations will likely bring about new therapeutic options for patients with short bowel syndrome. Careful evaluations of the impact of these interventions await controlled clinical trials.