American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: short bowel syndrome and intestinal transplantation.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) occurs when, after surgery or congenitally, a patient is left with 200 cm of functional small intestine. Absorption is related to the amount of residual intestine; patients at greatest nutritional risk generally have a duodenostomy or a jejunoileal anastomosis with 35 cm of residual small intestine, jejunocolic or ileocolic anastomosis with 60 cm of residual small intestine, or an end jejunostomy with 115 cm of residual small intestine. Patients can be grouped into 2 distinct subgroups: those with colon in continuity and those without colon in continuity. In patients with SBS, the colon becomes an important digestive organ.