[Clinical results of intestinal and multivisceral transplantation at the Charité, Berlin. A case series].

BACKGROUND AND
OBJECTIVE: Intestinal transplantation (ITx) is the only causal therapy of short bowel syndrome (SBS). Long-term survival after ITx has been improved significantly during the last years. The experience with ITx at the Charite, Campus Virchow Klinikum, are described and discussed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve isolated ITx and one multivisceral transplantation (including stomach, pancreatodudenal complex, small intestine, liver, ascending colon, right kidney, and adrenal gland) were performed. Mean recipient age was 37.7+/-10.6 yrs (median: 35 yrs; range: 27 - 58 yrs; M:F = 8:5). All patients had irreversible SBS (0 - 30 cm residual bowel length; mean: 11.8+/-11.4 cm; median: 13 cm).
RESULTS: 6-months and 1-year patient and graft survival were 85 % (11/13) and 77 % (10/13), respectively. Reasons for graft loss and patient death were necrotizing enterocolitis, severe, muromonab-resistent, acute rejection, and graft ischemia due to complex coagulopathy. All other patients had good long-term outcome. They received enteral nutrition at six hours after operation and were persistently off total parenteral nutrition (TPN) by week two after ITx.
CONCLUSION: ITx as established in our centre, with 1-year-patient and graft survival rates of 77 %, reflects current international standard. ITx is complementary to conservative and other operative methods of treating SBS. Referral and indication criteria need wider dissemination to prevent life-threatening complications of TPN.