Intestinal Transplant

Intestinal Transplant

Evaluation
Procedure
Recovery

Procedure

Intestinal transplant is a complex procedure that requires the expertise of specialists trained in performing transplants. The surgery may take up to 12 hours and involves either an isolated intestinal transplant alone, combined liver intestine transplant, or a multi-visceral transplant. Depending on the cause of your intestinal failure and your overall medical condition, your doctor will determine the type of transplant that best meets your needs:

• Isolated Intestinal Transplant — An isolated intestinal transplant involves removing the diseased portion of the small intestine and replacing it with a healthy small intestine from a donor. This type of transplant is considered for patients with complications caused by intestinal failure, but who do not have liver failure.
• Combined Liver Intestine Transplant — A combined liver and small intestine transplant involves removing the diseased liver and intestine and replacing them with a healthy liver and intestine from an organ donor. This type of transplant is considered for patients with intestinal failure who also have irreversible liver failure.
• Multivisceral Transplant — A multivisceral transplant is rarely necessary but may be considered for patients who have multiple organ failure, including stomach, pancreas, liver, small intestine and kidney failure. This type of transplant involves removing the diseased organs and replacing them with healthy organs from a donor.

Intestinal transplant involves removing your diseased small bowel and/or other organs, and replacing them with healthy organs. First your blood vessels are connected to the donor's blood vessels to establish a blood supply to the transplanted intestine. The donor's intestine is then connected to your gastrointestinal tract.

An ileostomy is then created, which is a surgically created opening through which a portion of your small bowel, called the ileum, is brought up through the abdominal wall. After the transplant, this new opening on your abdomen — the ileostomy — allows body waste to pass directly out of the body and empty into a pouch. The ileostomy also allows the transplant team to assess the health of your transplanted intestine. Whether the ileostomy is permanent depends on your medical condition before the transplant. In time, some patients are able to have the ileostomy closed and their intestine reconnected. A feeding tube is also placed into the stomach to help you transition to an oral diet.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007