Serial transverse enteroplasty enhances intestinal function in a model of short bowel syndrome

Objective/Summary Background Data: Serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) is a new intestinal lengthening procedure that has been shown to clinically increase bowel length. This study examined the impact of the STEP procedure upon intestinal function in a model of short bowel syndrome. Methods: Young pigs (n = 10) had a reversed segment of bowel interposed to induce bowel dilatation. Five pigs underwent a 90% bowel resection with a STEP procedure on the remaining dilated bowel while 5 served as controls and had a 90% bowel resection without a STEP procedure. Determinations of nutritional status, absorptive capacity, and bacterial overgrowth were conducted 6 weeks after resection. Statistical comparisons were made by 2-sample t test (significance at P < 0.05). Results: The STEP procedure lengthened the bowel from 105.2 +/- 7.7 cm to 152.2 +/- 8.3 cm (P < 0.01). The STEP animals showed improved weight retention compared with controls (mean, -0.5% +/- 1.8% body weight versus -17.6% +/- 1.5%, P < 0.001). Intestinal carbohydrate absorption, as measured by D-Xylose absorption and fat absorptive capacity as measured by serum vitamin D and triglyceride levels, were increased in the STEP group versus controls. Serum citrulline, a marker of intestinal mucosal mass, was significantly elevated in the STEP pigs compared with controls. None of the STEP animals but 4 of 5 control animals were noted to have gram-negative bacterial overgrowth in the proximal bowel. Conclusions: STEP improves weight retention, nutritional status, intestinal absorptive capacity, and serum citrulline levels in a porcine short bowel model. A salutary effect upon bacterial overgrowth was also noted. These data support the use of this operation in short bowel syndrome.