Background Megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS
) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder causing a functional neonatal bowe
l obstruction. Its etiopathogenesis is not fully understood. The prognosis
is poor in the majority of cases; most patients die before the age of 6 mon
ths. In this report, we describe our experience with three patients with MM
IHS in whom multivisceral transplantation was performed.
Methods. Three patients with MMIHS underwent multivisceral transplantation.
All patients were females with a history of long-term total parenteral nut
rition (TPN) with TPN-related cholestatic liver disease.
Results. Patient 1 died 17 months after transplantation because of aspirati
on after revision of her feeding gastrostomy. At the time of death, the gra
ft was functioning and the patient was completely off TPN. Patient 2 is ali
ve 17 months after transplant. She is a fully functional, active 2-year-old
and has also recently begun oral feeding after intensive rehabilitation. P
atient 3 died on day 44 of multisystem failure.
Conclusions. This is the first report in the literature of multivisceral tr
ansplantation for MMIHS. Although one of the three patients died 44 days af
ter surgery from multiorgan system failure, the other two patients had long
-term survival after transplant and both grew well on enteral feeding alone
. One patient died 17 months from a non-transplant-related complication, wh
ile the other is living at home off of TPN, with almost complete dietary re
habilitation 17 months after transplant. Our case reports suggest that mult
ivisceral transplantation is a valuable therapeutic option for patients aff
ected by MMIHS with TPN-induced liver failure.