Intestine

The intestine

Functions of the Intestine

The intestines are part of the alimentary tract. This tract extends from the upper esophagus through the stomach, small bowel, and colon, and ends at the anus. Intestinal organs support life by digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and ridding the body of waste.

Intestinal organs may not function properly for a number of reasons, including:

Metabolic or immune system diseases
Loss of blood flow to the organs
Severe infection
Damage from diseases of other organs such as the liver or kidneys

The most common condition leading to an intestinal transplant is short gut syndrome. This happens when there is not enough small intestine to digest food normally. It can happen at birth. It can also be caused by other diseases and/or surgical removal of part of the intestine.

Intestine transplant procedures

An intestinal organ transplant may include the entire gastrointestinal tract from esophagus to large intestine, or it may be any portion. Other organs may also be transplanted along with intestinal organs. The primary types of transplants include:

Small bowel alone
Liver and small bowel
Multivisceral transplantation including the stomach and small bowel, sometimes including the colon and/or other organs such as liver and pancreas

Intestine transplants almost always involve a deceased donor. In very rare instances, a living donor has provided a segment of intestine for transplantation.

Reasons for intestine transplants

Intestine diagnosis
Short Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Atresia
Short Gut Syndrome: Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Short Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Volvulus Secondary to Malrotation
Short Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Volvulus Secondary to Adhesions
Short Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Volvulus Secondary to Persistent Omphalomesenteric Duct
Short Gut Syndrome: Gastroschisis
Short Gut Syndrome: Massive Resection Secondary to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease)
Short Gut Syndrome: Massive Resection Secondary to Tumor
Short Gut Syndrome: Massive Resection Secondary to Mesenteric Arterial Thrombosis or Embolus
Short Gut Syndrome: Massive Resection Secondary to Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis
Short Gut Syndrome: Specify
Short Gut Syndrome: Unspecified
Functional Bowel Problem: Hirschsprung’s Disease
Functional Bowel Problem: Neuronal Intestinal Dysplasia
Functional Bowel Problem: Pseudo-obstruction, Neuropathic
Functional Bowel Problem: Pseudo-obstruction, Myopathic
Functional Bowel Problem: Protein-losing Enteropathy
Functional Bowel Problem: Microvillous Inclusion Disease
Functional Bowel Problem: Specify
Functional Bowel Problem: Unspecified
Graft Failure
Retransplant
Other Intestinal Disease