PMO-060Restoring intestinal continuity after a small bowel infarction reduces the volume and frequency of parenteral nutrition

IntroductionA small bowel resection for ischaemia is one of the most common reasons for an admission to an intestinal failure unit (IFU) and for a patient needing home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The aim was to determine the changes in parenteral fluid, sodium and energy given to patients who have had a massive small bowel resection for ischaemia and in whom intestinal continuity is subsequently re-established by anastomosing the duodenum/jejunum to the remaining colon.MethodsPatients were identified using the IFU database. Case notes were retrospectively reviewed for the fluid, sodium and energy requirements before and after intestinal continuity was restored. Median values of the weekly requirements were calculated for 2years after the continuity surgery had been performed.Results12 (5M) patients, mean age 51years (range 30-77). 2 patients died at 12months (one sepsis, one brainstem stroke) and one patient had not reached 24months follow-up. The resection was for arterial infarction in eight patients, venous infarction in one patient, volvulus in one patient, incarcerated hernia in one patient and iatrogenic following surgery in one patient. Six patients had a small bowel length of