Introduction: We describe a series of cases of patients with short bowel, who had intestinal ischemia due to height (hypobaric hypoxia). It has been suggested that polyglobulia and hypoxia can lead to a decrease in splanchnic oxygenation and precipitate intestinal ischemic events. The descent at sea level can reduce the risk of thrombosis and finally, after intestinal rehabilitation therapy, ensure that patients can undergo autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction (AGIR).

Patients: 3 adult male patients, with short bowel anatomical who suffered from intestinal ischemia and underwent massive intestinal resection. The patients had in common being males, adults, living in valleys above 3000 meters above sea level, presenting haematological and / or endothelial diseases with levels of polyglobulia up to 60% of hematocrit.

The patients underwent a thrombotic profile, angio-TEM and echocardiogram to determine hematological alterations, atherosclerosis of splanchnic vessels or impaired cardiac function. No abnormality was found in any of them. The hematological and coagulation values, initially altered by the anti-coagulant medication, were reversible.

Discussion: These ischemic events due to physiological changes, polyglobulia and activation of coagulation factors (factor VII), have been described in patients living above 2800 meters above sea level.

We believe that patients may have presented ischemic events aggravated by endothelial damage and polyglobulia, in the territory of the mesenteric artery. Intestinal ischemia due to hypobaric hypoxia is a rare entity that usually develops in adult males who live above 3000 meters above sea level, its prognosis is good after massive bowel resection and short bowel syndrome can be resolved with intestinal rehabilitation therapy and AGIR.