Treatments for Short Bowel Syndrome

Our goal is to maximize the functioning of your small intestine with the help of specialized nutrition therapy and other treatments. Using a personalized approach, we hve helped patients who were completely dependent on supplemental nutrition go back to eating solid foods in as little as five months.

When you have SBS, nutrition is an important part of your treatment. Our Digestive Health Center's dedicated nutritionists specialize in helping patients with SBS get the best nutrition possible through treatments that include:

• Medical nutrition therapy: There is no specific diet for people with SBS. Our experts from Nutrition Services look at many factors to find foods that you like to eat and your stomach can tolerate. We also help you learn important techniques, such as when and how to eat in order to maximize nutrient absorption.
• Multivitamins or mineral supplements: Taking multivitamins or mineral supplements can help you replace lost nutrients.
• Supplemental nutrition: Providing extra nutrition through a special formula, supplemental nutrition comes in many forms, including tube feeding.
• Total parenteral nutrition: Getting all the nutrition you need from special fluids you receive through a catheter (thin, spaghetti-like tube) in your vein. Total parenteral nutrition can help you if your intestines need time to heal or your stomach has lost its ability to absorb nutrients from food taken by mouth.

Other SBS treatments include:

• Medication: Medication can help relieve specific symptoms. This includes anti-diarrheals for diarrhea, which can slow the movement of food through your small intestine, so it has more time to absorb water and nutrients.
• Pain management: Offering innovative approaches, our GI Pain Clinic experts address the source of your pain. Your treatment may include medications, stress management or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture.
• Ostomy: Creating an opening through the skin of your abdomen to allow elimination of stool without your colon. You also receive ongoing care and support from our specially trained ostomy nurses.
• Bowel rehabilitation and transplant: We offer innovative therapies to help your body get the nutrients it needs when your intestines are no longer able to absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. Learn more about our Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Program.