Short bowel syndrome, a disease of the small intestine that is too short

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) or what can be interpreted as short bowel syndrome is a disease of the small intestine associated with gastrointestinal disorders and impaired absorption of nutrients. SBS occurs when a person has a small intestine that is shorter than normal. The small intestine is an important organ in the digestive system that plays a role in absorbing nutrients. So when someone has SBS, he will experience gastrointestinal problems and malnutrition. This small intestine disease will be very dangerous if left untreated.

Symptoms of short bowel syndrome (SBS)

As with digestive problems in general, people who experience SBS will more often experience symptoms of diarrhea or stools that are too runny on a regular basis. The effects of diarrhea also have an impact on dehydration because the intestines cannot properly absorb fluids and electrolytes. Stool that is too runny indicates a lot of water and electrolytes are not absorbed by the body.

This is also accompanied by:

The stomach feels gassy (bloating)
Experiencing stomach cramps and nausea
The body feels weak and weak
Weight loss
Sometimes accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn)

Because when experiencing SBS disorders it can reduce nutritional intake, this condition can also cause several diseases due to malnutrition such as:

Anemia
Kidney stones
Pain in bones and osteoporosis
The skin becomes scuffed more easily
Fatty heart
The appearance of gallstones

SBS can also have an impact on the body which is more prone to gastrointestinal damage and allergic reactions. Gastrointestinal damage that is experienced can be in the form of stomach ulcers due to exposure to acid in the intestinal wall or stomach and too much bacteria in the small intestine. Meanwhile, allergic disorders such as lactose intolerance are usually characterized by nausea and diarrhea after consuming dairy products.

Why do I have short small intestine disease?

The onset of SBS is closely related to other small intestinal diseases. SBS usually occurs in someone who experiences:

Cutting of the small intestine due to cancer
Impaired bowel function due to cancer treatment
Crohn's disease, which causes inflammation and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract
Serious damage or injury to the small intestine
Disorders of small bowel movements
Small intestine or large intestine twisted
Congenital defects in the intestine, usually found in children
Blockage meconium which is the baby's first stool in the small intestine
Cut off flow in the intestine
Disorders of the intestine that cause it to leave the body through the navel opening

How can SBS be recognized?

To make a diagnosis of this disease of the small intestine, the doctor will examine several things related to the gastrointestinal system, such as:

History of serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as cancer and history of surgery
Physical examination such as signs of loss of muscle mass and signs of vitamin and mineral deficiency
Check the mineral and vitamin content in the blood
Examination of fecal fat content
X-rays and CT scan to see the size and condition of the small intestine

How to treat short bowel syndrome?

There are several things that can be done to treat the symptoms of SBS and treat malnutrition conditions due to SBS, including:

1. Restoration of nutrition

Nutritional restoration is the main treatment for SBS cases. This can be done by:

Oral rehydration by consuming a drink rich in salt and minerals to alleviate the effects of lack of fluids during diarrhea.
Feeding liquid through a feeding tube (feeding tube) which goes straight into the digestive tract. Although this method is effective, there is a risk of complications from gallstones.
Provision of nutrients in the form of water, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals into the flow through intravenous fluids.
Eat often but small amounts of food, eat low protein, fiber, and sugar and avoid high fat intake.

2. Treatment

The administration of a series of drugs to treat symptoms due to SBS which aims to suppress bacterial growth (antibiotics), suppress gastric acid production, slow down food movement, and increase intestinal absorption.

Operation

The main objective of this countermeasure method is to increase the absorption of the small intestine. Most of the SBS cases require surgery. It also aims to prevent intestinal blockage, improve the size of the intestinal tract, and slow down the movement of food as it passes through the small intestine.

The doctor may also order a bowel transplant to replace the damaged intestinal tissue.