Small Bowel Resections

Abstract

The small intestine is an absorptive organ that plays a critical role in digestion. In an adult, the small intestine is 3–8 m long (average of 620 cm or approx 22 ft) (1) in vivo with a microscopic mucosal architecture that consists of innumerable villi, which create a tremendous absorptive surface area. Whereas 8–10 L of fluid enter the small bowel daily, only 500 mL to 1.5 L make it to the cecum. In addition to the efficient absorption of water, the absorption of simple sugars, small peptides, amino acids, chylomicrons, and lipid micelles occur in the small intestine. Finally, the absorption of vitamins and minerals critical to many physiologic processes also occurs here. Surgical diseases of this organ are quite uncommon. In fact, the most common operation involving the small intestine is lysis of adhesions for small bowel obstruction. Usually, there is no small bowel resection during that operation. Fortunately, the small intestine has plenty of reserve and resections of short segments are well tolerated.