Short Bowel Syndrome

What Is Short Bowel Syndrome?

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a group of problems that happen when your intestines have difficulty absorbing enough nutrients and fluids to meet your body's needs. SBS is most common in people who have had half or more of their small intestine surgically removed due to complications from advanced gastrointestinal conditions.

Also known as short gut syndrome, conditions that lead to SBS include:

• Congenital defects or complications due to premature birth: Some children are born with defects in their intestines or experience GI complications from being born prematurely.
• Crohn's disease: Inflammation from Crohn's disease can affect any part of your digestive tract, from your mouth to your anus. If complications damage your bowel, treatment sometimes includes removing sections of your small intestine (resection).
• Vascular disease: Damage or blockage (atresia) in your intestinal blood vessels can limit blood flow, leading to bowel injury.
• Cancer treatment: Removing tumors may require surgically removing parts of your small intestine. Therapies used to treat gastrointestinal cancer, such as radiation therapy, can also cause damage to your bowel.