Medical and nutritional treatment in adult patients with acute intestinal failure

Abstract

Acute intestinal failure is a reversible clinical condition characterised by reduced intestinal function, which requires the intravenous supplementation of nutrients, water and/or electrolytes for weeks or months to maintain an optimal state of health. Acute intestinal failure occurs mainly in postsurgical patients who have undergone abdominal operations or are critically ill and have organ dysfunction. These patients' medical and nutritional management can be a complex and prolonged process due to the associated complications such as electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, sepsis and metabolic disorders. Medical treatment is focused on preventing and controlling sepsis, restoring fluids and electrolytes and rehabilitating the intestine. Nutritional therapy seeks to attenuate protein catabolism, prevent nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disorders and optimise the nutritional state. This review seeks to provide updated and useful information on the management of acute intestinal failure.

Keywords: Abdominal sepsis; Acute intestinal failure; Enteral nutrition; Fallo intestinal agudo; Fístula intestinal; Intestinal fistula; Nutrición enteral; Nutrición parenteral; Parenteral nutrition; Sepsis abdominal; Short bowel syndrome; Síndrome de intestino corto.