Segmental intestinal preservation and enteral nutrition help to maintain the intestinal function after a massive intestinal resection: Report of a case

We report a case in which both segmental intestinal preservation and entera l nutrition helped to maintain the intestinal function after a massive bowe l resection for superior mesenteric artery (SMA) thrombosis. A 53-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital with acute abdomen. Extensive nec rosis of the small intestine was found during the operation; however, a loo p of the ileum appeared to be viable. A massive resection of the small inte stine which preserved a 50-cm length of the viable ileum loop was thus perf ormed. However, diffuse stenosis of the remaining ileum was found after sur gery. An end-to-end anastomosis of the distal end of the preserved ileum lo op and the terminal ileum was made in the second operation, and enteral nut rition was infused to improve the remnant intestinal function. A jejunoileo stomy was performed in the final operation. An X-ray study after the final operation showed the stenosis of the remaining ileum to have improved. The patient therefore did not need any nutritional support after being discharg ed.