Sammanfattning
Intestinal transplantation is today an established treatment for patients with irreversible intestinal failure and life-threatening complications of parenteral nutrition. Improvement in results over the past decade is mainly due to better immunosuppressive strategies, better management of infectious complications and improved surgical techniques. In the international experience more than 2600 patients have been transplanted, 55% children and 45 % adults. At Sahlgrenska University Hospital 22 patients have been transplanted since 1998. Patient survival at 1 year is about 80 % but the 5-year survival is only about 50%. Chronic rejection and side effects of immunosuppression are major reasons for late patient deaths. About 80 % of transplanted patients obtain intestinal autonomy after transplantation. In conclusion, intestinal transplantation is a life-saving procedure in selected patients with intestinal failure. There is a need for a multidisciplinary approach to these patients and organ shortage is today the greatest limiting factor.