Intestinal Transplant

An intestinal transplant is a treatment option for children and adults with intestinal failure who develop life-threatening complications from total parenteral nutrition (TPN), which provides nutrition intravenously. TPN provides liquid nutrition through a catheter or needle inserted into a vein in the arm, groin, neck or chest. Long-term TPN can result in complications including bone disorders, catheter-related infections and liver failure. Over time, TPN also can damage veins used to administer the nutrition via the catheter.

After receiving an intestinal transplant, patients can be transitioned from TPN to an oral diet, thus improving their health and quality of life.

As one of the largest organ transplant programs in the country, UCSF Medical Center is also one of the few in the country that performs intestinal transplants. Our team includes a transplant surgeon, liver specialists, gastroenterologists, nurses, social workers, pharmacists and dietitians specially trained in transplantation.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated August 29, 2007