Nutritional Therapy – Progression to Conventional
Foods
Most patients are gradually able to resume and increase
oral food intake. The patient is slowly weaned off the infusions (i.e.,
TPN or elemental diet) while a conventional diet is introduced. Depending
on the remaining intestine, foods may be well tolerated or they may cause
diarrhea and other complications. It is generally agreed that limiting
fat intake is beneficial in patients with SBS, because the absorption
of fat is often severely impaired and excessive quantities could trigger
diarrhea. Patients with extensive small intestine resection involving
the jejunum may also experience symptoms of lactose intolerance, which
results in the necessity to limit the intake of dairy products. This stage
requires close management and good communication between the physician
and patient, since most of the complications occur once oral feedings
begin. In addition, oral rehydration solutions such as the World Health
Organization's solution containing glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride
and bicarbonate, or any of several commercially available electrolyte
solutions, are used to prevent dehydration and maintain fluid and electrolyte
balance.
This information
is provided as a general educational service
and is not intended to recommend any particular treatment plan
or to replace the advice of physicians. It is important that patients
seek and rely on the advice of a healthcare professional
about their individual medical conditions.
