Nine year's survival with short bowel syndrome after occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery in an elderly man: a study of periods of parenteral nutrition.

A 70-year-old man with severe short bowel syndrome after acute occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and massive intestinal gangrene was given total and supplementary parenteral nutrition for six periods of 14 to 28 days; he survived for more than 9 years and died from the effects of nutritional depletion. Studies of the blood chemistry and the urinary excretion of nitrogen and electrolytes during the six periods of intravenous nutrition showed that nutritional repletion of nitrogen and electrolytes was achieved without adverse effects on the liver function. The results suggest that intermittent total and supplementary parenteral nutrition may allow nutritional repletion and thereby prolong the survival time in the elderly patient in whom massive intestinal resection has been performed.