Objective: To investigate the significance, effects and precautions of enteral nutritional support in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS).
Methods: Clinical data of 40 SBS patients who were maintained on enteral nutrition (EN) for more than 2 years were retrospectively summarized. The cost of EN and parenteral nutrition (PN), the PN-free duration, and the current nutritional status of these patients were analyzed.
Results: The mean length of the remnant small bowel was (50.8 +/- 29.4) cm. All the patients currently lived on high-carbohydrate low-fat diet supplemented with EN (3284.0 +/- 1408.8) kJ/d, the cost was significantly lower than that of PN (P < 0.01). Mean PN-free duration was (29.1 +/- 9.2) months for these patients. The current defecation frequency and volume were (3.4 +/- 1.7) times/d and (720.2 +/- 350.3) ml/d, respectively. As for the patients' nutritional index, mean BMI, blood hemoglobin and serum albumin level were (17.8 +/- 3.2) kg/m(2), (113.3 +/- 14.8) g/L and (35.0 +/- 4.1) g/L, respectively.
Conclusions: Enteral nutrition is a cost-effective method for maintaining the nutritional status in patients with short bowel syndrome, but proper management in clinical practice to avoid diarrhea or other complications should be ensured.