Abstract
Functional adaptation of remaining intestine was evaluated in 30 patients with extensive small bowel resection. Calcium and xylose absorption tests were compared. Calcium absorption was measured by a double- radiotracer technique. Serum xylosemia was measured 2 hr after d-xylose ingestion. Patients were divided into two groups according to the time interval between surgery and evaluation: less (group I) or more (group II) than two years. A statistically significant correlation was found between xylosemia and remaining small bowel length (r=0.71; P<0.001) and between calcium absorption and remaining small bowel length (r=0.75; P<0.001) in group I. A significant correlation was also observed between calcium absorption and time after surgery (r=0.65; P=0.001) but not for xylose absorption. Calcium absorption value was significantly increased in group II patients compared with group I patients matched for remaining small bowel length (36.2±12.5% vs 14.5±9.1%; P < 0.001) while no difference was observed between the two groups concerning xylose absorption. These data indicate that intestinal calcium absorption continues to increase for more than two years after a major bowel resection in man. The intestine does not seem to recover all its functions at the same time.
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Gouttebel, M.C., Saint Aubert, B., Colette, C. et al. Intestinal adaptation in patients with short bowel syndrome. Digest Dis Sci 34, 709–715 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540342
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540342