Neonatal short bowel syndrome: 'rectal feeding' in order to stimulate intestinal growth

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is characterized by a state of malabsorption following extensive resection of the small bowel, resulting in insufficient nutritive supply requiring artificial nutrition with long-term parenteral nutrition. Here we present an illustrative case report of a premature infant born with gastroschisis and SBS, who was treated with enteral refeeding via rectum. The infant developed during the period of rectal feeding with jejunostomy loses bowel lengthening and could be fed orally within a few months after birth. Rectal feeding with ostomy loses could stimulate bowel growth and adaptation in neonatal SBS.
Conclusion: The purpose of this report is to describe an illustrative case of short bowel syndrome due to gastroschisis and to share a novel technique of rectal feeding to stimulate bowel growth and adaptation.