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Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Short-Bowel Syndrome

Short-bowel syndrome, also known as short-gut syndrome, is a type of intestinal failure resulting from several causes, ranging from surgical removal of the intestines to functional failure of the intestines to develop.

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh offers a unique approach to treating short bowel syndrome and is at the forefront of treating this medical issue.

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What Is Short-Bowel Syndrome?

Short bowel syndrome, also known as short-gut syndrome, is a type of intestinal failure resulting from several causes, ranging from surgical removal to functional failure of the intestines to develop.

Whether a portion of the intestine has been removed by surgery, has been damaged by physical trauma, or has stopped developing or working, UPMC Children’s Hospital provides family-centered, innovative care.

Both the patient and family are provided with support and education as needed. The expert team dedicated to each patient evaluates all possibilities before determining a course of treatment. The goal of this unified approach is to improve liver function and enhance nutritional absorption.

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How Do You Treat Short-Bowel Syndrome?

After evaluation, a patient may be recommended for a bowel-lengthening procedure.

Bowel-lengthening procedure

If a bowel-lengthening procedure is determined to be the best option, one of two procedures may be used, as described below:

  • Bianchi procedure — Separates the intestine, converting one short, large-diameter length into a longer smaller smaller-diameter tube. This allows a longer length and more time for food to travel in the intestine and therefore be absorbed by the digestive process. This may allow a child being fed intravenously to begin eating sooner on their own.
  • Serial transverse enteroplast procedure (STEP) — Uses a stapling device to make small V-like patterns in the intestinal tract. This also narrows the diameter of the intestine by creating an accordion-like structure, allowing food to spend more time in the intestine to be absorbed naturally.

Transplantation

In situations where a bowel-lengthening procedure will not be effective, a transplant may be recommended. Approximately 40% to 50% of short-bowel syndrome patients are referred for transplantation. In addition, our surgeons exhaust all options before recommending transplantation.

As the nation’s first transplantation program, UPMC Children’s has been at the forefront of pediatric liver transplantation and intestine transplantation for more than 25 years. Our pediatric intestine and liver transplant survival rates are among the highest in the world.

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Why Choose UPMC for Short-Bowel Syndrome Care?

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh offers a unique approach to treating short-bowel syndrome and is at the forefront of treating this medical issue.

  • At Children’s, every child diagnosed with a colorectal condition is handled with an individualized treatment plan and family-centered care.
  • In addition, cutting-edge research and the latest technology provide our patients with the best possible outcomes.
  • A multi-specialty group of pediatric experts from surgery, gastroenterology, and transplant collaborate to evaluate the underlying diagnosis, nutritional needs, and digestive functions.

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Learn how to make an appointment with a surgeon at UPMC Children’s.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2026-01-09.