Is Mr. Page a likely candidate for short bowel syndrome? Define short bowel syndrome, and provide a rationale for your answer

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Short bowel syndrome results when a large portion (>50%) of the small intestine is resected or an individual presents with significant signs of malabsorption and/or is unable to maintain fluid and electrolyte status.
The likelihood that an individual will develop short bowel syndrome depends on which sections of the small intestine have been resected, presence of the ileocecal valve, and health of the remaining portions of the small intestine.
It is difficult to predict Mr. Page's postoperative course. The small intestine is about 20 feet, or 610 cm, long. Thus, Mr. Page lost about 33% of his small intestine with this surgery. Because 50% or more has to be removed before its ability to function normally is significantly reduced, Mr. Page should be able to recover to normal functionality.
Also, Mr. Page still has his ileocecal valve, which controls transit time through the small intestine.
If this is absent, transit time is decreased and the contact time needed for digestion and absorption is affected.
The major concern for Mr. Page is the effect of Crohn's disease on the remaining small bowel and his state of malnutrition preoperatively.