CONTINUOUS EXTRACORPOREAL STOOL-TRANSPORT SYSTEM - A NEW AND ECONOMICAL PROCEDURE FOR TRANSITORY SHORT-BOWEL SYNDROME IN PREMATURES AND NEWBORNS

Between May 1994 and June 1995, nine newborns underwent surgery due to mechanical ileus or intrauterine perforation of the small bowel. Thre e were very-low-birthweight infants weighing between 520 and 1,200 g. Surgery was performed in the first 2 days of life and split ileo- or j ejunostomas were implanted. Early oral nutrition was initiated. To avo id non-use of the distal bowel and short-bowel syndrome, the aboral st oma was irrigated a few days later with the proximal feces. A new tech nique was applied to transport the chyle continuously from the oral to the aboral stoma: the stool was collected in an especially constructe d stoma bag and transported distally by a roller pump. No major compli cations were seen. The general outcome was excellent in all cases, and reanastomosis under optimal bowel conditions was achieved in all pati ents without further problems.