Intestine Transplant

Surgery

An intestine transplant is a complex operation that typically takes several hours. During surgery, the surgeon will remove your diseased or shortened small intestine and replace it with the donor small intestine. The surgeon will then sew the donor small intestine into place and connect the major blood vessels.

Recovery

After surgery, you will spend several days in the hospital recovering. You will need to take medications to prevent your body from rejecting the donor small intestine. You will also need to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to help your new small intestine stay healthy.

Outlook

The outlook for people who receive intestine transplants is good. Most people who receive an intestine transplant live for many years and enjoy a good quality of life. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the 5-year survival rate for intestine transplant recipients is 72%.

Benefits

Here are some of the benefits of an intestine transplant:

Can significantly improve quality of life and life expectancy

Can reduce symptoms of intestinal failure, such as diarrhea, malnutrition, and fatigue

Can allow patients to resume many of their daily activities, such as work, hobbies, and exercise

Can improve mental health and emotional well-being

Risks

However, it is important to note that intestine transplants are not without risks. These risks include:

Infection

Bleeding

Blood clots

Organ rejection

Death

Organ rejection is a serious complication that can occur after an intestine transplant. It is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the donor small intestine. Organ rejection can be treated with medication, but in some cases, it may lead to failure of the donor small intestine and require another transplant.

The risk of organ rejection is highest in the first few years after an intestine transplant, but it can occur at any time. To reduce the risk of organ rejection, patients need to take medications that suppress their immune system for the rest of their lives.

Despite the risks, intestine transplant is a life-saving surgery for many people with intestinal failure. If you are considering an intestine transplant, it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the procedure.

Here are some additional details about intestine transplants:

The donor small intestine is typically harvested from a deceased donor who has died suddenly and unexpectedly. The donor must be a good match for the recipient in terms of blood type, size, and age.

The intestine transplant surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon will make a large incision in the abdomen and open the abdominal cavity. The surgeon will then remove the diseased or shortened small intestine and sew the donor small intestine into place.

After surgery, the patient will be placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) for several days. During this time, the patient will be monitored closely for any complications.

Once the patient is stable, they will be transferred to a regular hospital room. The patient will typically stay in the hospital for about 2 weeks after surgery.

After leaving the hospital, the patient will need to continue to take medications to prevent organ rejection. The patient will also need to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to help their new small intestine stay healthy.