A multicentric observational retrospective study on patients with short bowel syndrome and chronic intestinal failure who underwent intestinal transplantation in Brazil

Introduction: Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) is a rare gastrointestinal disorder associated with Intestinal Failure (SBS-IF) that leads to morbidity, mortality, and a burden on healthcare costs. Intestine Transplantation (IT) is a treatment option for patients with SBS-IF as it replaces the missing or diseased intestine and offers the potential for return to normal activities and intestinal function. This study aims to describe the clinical course and demographical and clinical characteristics of subjects with SBS-IF who underwent IT in Brazil.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included all SBS-IF patients who underwent IT in two reference centers in Brazil from April 2011 to December 2021.

Results: A total of 7 young male participants were included in the study. The most frequent underlying condition was surgical complications, followed by intestinal volvulus and incisional hernia. The most frequent indication for IT was a hepatic disease associated with total Parenteral Nutrition (PN). The main type of IT performed was intestine only. The median time from underlying condition to IT was 67.3 (16.5‒88.5) months. The mean (SD) number of yearly hospitalizations per patient was 0.5 (0.3). The most common reason for hospitalization was PN-related complications. Sixty exams were performed in-hospital and 53 in the outpatient setting.

Conclusion: The findings of this study may be helpful to understand better the journey of patients with SBS-IF to IT in Brazil, providing real-world evidence to develop health policy guidelines and improve the quality of life of these patients.