Introduction: Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) due to massive intestinal resection due to mesenteric ischemia or surgical complications, require parenteral nutrition (PN) for long periods until the residual intestinal length (RIL) adapts. This depends on age, RIL, underlying intestinal pathology. The adaptation can take two or more years; however, enteral nutrition (EN) can be an essential element by decreasing the time of intestinal adaptation and periods of PN.

Patients and methods: Prospective case series (2015 to 2017). Patients with intestinal failure associated with SBS were given an enteral access type gastrostomy or naso-jejunal tube during the autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction (AGIR), then they were administered polymer enteral nutrient by infusion pump, using the tolerance protocol (Denver) and then maintenance until you achieve EN total and leave the PN.

Results: 10 patients, 7 men and 3 women, between 30 and 68 years old, 5 with gastrostomy tube, when the RIL after the AGIR was less than 100 cm or naso-jejunal tube when the intestinal length was longer. Periods of intestinal rehabilitation were achieved, with withdrawal of PN and oral feeding, between 6 to 12 months. In all patients, the follow-up was performed for 1 year.

Discussion and conclusions: The results show the main advantage of the use of polymer enteral nutrition is the reduction of time to intestinal rehabilitation. These results would be associated to the physiological changes produced by the enteral stimulus and the utilization of the circadian rhythm of intrinsic secretion of Growth Hormone during nocturnal EN. The diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease, as well as the preparation and protocolized execution of AGIR are important elements that allow to install a therapy of intestinal rehabilitation with EN.