Intestinal Failure
Treatment

The Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation Program offers a wide range services for adults and children. The type and length of treatment differs for each patient, depending on the needs and goals.

Services include:

• Counseling and education about intestinal rehabilitation
• Drug and diet modification to train the small intestine to absorb more nutrients
• Consultations to help assess and correct nutrient deficiencies and prevent damage to kidneys, bones and liver
• Management of TPN to avoid complications
• Placement and management of catheters in veins called central venous lines
• Surgery, such as bowel lengthening and tapering that can help increase bowel length and nutrient absorption
• Intestinal transplants
• Consultations with doctors caring for patients with intestinal failure

For patients dependent on TPN, the program provides services to help patients:

• Reduce or eliminate the need for TPN
• Reduce complications associated with TPN
• Decrease diarrhea and/or vomiting
• Gain weight
• Decrease the need for intestinal transplantation

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.