Intestinal transplantation in infants with intestinal failure.

Intestinal failure (IF) occurs when a person's functional intestinal mass is insufficient. Patients with IF are placed on parenteral nutrition (PN) while efforts are made to restore intestinal function through surgical or medical intervention. Patients who fail standard IF therapies may be candidates for intestinal transplantation (IT). Clinical outcomes for IT have improved to make this therapy the standard of care for patients who develop complications of PN. The timing of referral for IT is critical because accumulated complications of PN can render the patient ineligible for IT or can force the patient to await multiorgan transplantation.