Definition:

Short bowel syndrome (SBS), also called short gut syndrome or simply short gut, is a malabsorption disorder. It typically occurs in people who lost at least half of their small intestine due to surgical resection for various disorders, including Crohn's disease, volvulus, cancer, or significant damage (injury, trauma). In infants, necrotizing enterocolitis is the most common cause for surgical resection of the small intestines. Patients usually experience symptoms that include abdominal pain, diarrhea. The main treatment is nutritional support such as oral rehydration, parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplements, and special diet. Currently, a recombinant analog of human glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) teduglutide associated with the treatment for SBS has been reported to improve intestinal absorption.