When you lose approximately 50% or more of the small intestine, either because of illnesses, surgery, or tumors, you end up with less than an ideal amount of intestine, or short bowel syndrome, which can result in malabsorption, dehydration, weight loss, and in small infants it can potentially lead to their death.
What are the main causes of short bowel syndrome?
The most common cause in the United States is Crohn's Disease, which can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. Part of the treatment of Crohn's disease can involve removing parts of the small intestine, which can then result in short bowel syndrome. The removal of certain tumors in the small intestine can result in short bowel syndrome as well.
Additionally, certain types of infections can temporarily give you short bowel syndrome by functionally removing the amount of absorptive surface the small intestine has.
Are there different degrees of short bowel syndrome?
There are different degrees or severity of short bowel syndrome, and the severity depends on how much of the small intestine has been removed. If you have more than 50% of your small intestine, you may have a mild case, and it presents itself when you overwhelm the small intestine's ability to do what it normally does. For example, if you decide to eat or drink excessive amounts, then you can overwhelm its normal ability to compensate.
