[Extensive resection of the small intestine in children].

Thirteen children aged 2 to 16 years have had a subtotal resection of small bowel, following a mid-gut volvulus in 10 cases. All children are still alive, and their growth was normal; 36 cumulative patient-years of parenteral nutrition and 11 years of constant rate enteral nutrition were performed. In 7 cases, where residual small bowel varied between 30 to 120 cm, termination of all artificial nutritional support was possible at a mean of 30 months after intestinal resection. On the other hand if resection was near total with less than 20 cm remaining, life long dependence on parenteral nutrition is unavoidable unless intestinal transplantation becomes feasible; with cyclic parental nutrition at home, their quality of life is near normal.