Intestinal transplantation represents a suitable treatment for patients with intestinal failure who then develop life-threatening complications of total parenteral nutrition and for some patients with complex abdominal disorders not suitable for conventional treatment.
Methods: prior to launch of the clinical program, preparation started in 2006 initially with extensive experimentation carried out on pigs. The clinical phase involved a specialized, multidisciplinary team who examined 23 patients being considered for transplantation. Seven patients were put on a waiting list and one female, due to the improvement of her medical status, was unlisted. The first ever intestinal transplantation was done in 2014.
Results: three out of six transplanted patients are alive with 380 days of actual survival; median 131 days (63-763). Two patients are on a full oral diet and nutritionally independent with an excellent quality of life. One female is nutritionally independent but with the need for partial supplemental parenteral rehydration due to the stomal output.
Conclusion: intestinal transplantation is a suitable treatment for highly selected patients with intestinal failure who meet specific listing criteria.
Keywords: intestinal failure; intestinal transplantation; multivisceral transplantation; parenteral nutrition short bowel syndrome..