For parents of premature infants, few things are as difficult as watching your baby suffer from painful complications like short-gut syndrome. This condition occurs when a significant portion of the small intestine is lost or needs to be surgically removed due to damage. Short-gut syndrome can send families on a complex medical journey, but with the right information and support, there is hope for your child’s future.
What Are Some of the Symptoms of Short-Gut Syndrome?
The small intestine plays an important role in the human body. It absorbs essential nutrients from food and helps transport these nutrients into your bloodstream. The small intestine also helps protect your body from harmful bacteria and produces hormones that support digestion.
Short-gut syndrome occurs when your child’s body cannot absorb enough nutrients and fluids because a portion of their small intestine is missing or malfunctioning. When this condition strikes, your child may experience several concerning symptoms and complications that can have a significant impact on their future.
Common symptoms may include:
- Persistent diarrhea
- Excessive gas and bloating
- Foul-smelling stool
- Fatigue
- Growth delays
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
- Swelling in the legs and feet
What Causes Short-Gut Syndrome?
Several conditions can lead to short-gut syndrome in children. In some cases, babies are born with intestinal abnormalities, including an underdeveloped small intestine or missing bowel sections. In other situations, the condition develops after the intestinal tissue is surgically removed due to conditions like Crohn’s disease or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
NEC is a serious condition that primarily affects premature infants. The disease causes inflammation and death of intestinal tissue, and babies often require emergency surgery to remove the damaged portions. When large sections of the intestine must be removed to save your child’s life, short-gut syndrome can develop as a direct result. If NEC caused your child’s condition, you may have grounds for legal action. You may benefit from seeking assistance from a lawyer knowledgeable in NEC baby formula litigation.
What Are the Treatment Options for Short-Gut Syndrome?
If your child is diagnosed with short-gut syndrome, their medical team will develop a treatment plan focused on helping them get the nutrients they need to thrive. This typically involves three main strategies: nutrition support, medications, and, if necessary, surgery.
Your child may need both tube feeding and IV nutrition (also called TPN). Tube feeding delivers special formula directly to your child’s stomach or intestines, while TPN provides nutrients through a special IV line. Your doctor will also create a diet plan and may prescribe vitamin supplements to ensure your child gets proper nutrition.
The medical team might prescribe several types of medications to help your child feel better and absorb more nutrients. These treatments can fight unwanted bacteria growth in the intestines, decrease stomach acid, and help food move through the digestive system at the right speed.
Sometimes surgery is necessary to help your child’s intestines work better. Surgical procedures can make the intestines longer, prevent blockages, or place feeding tubes. In the most serious cases, your child might need an intestinal transplant.
Explore Your Legal Options with Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC
If your child is suffering from short-gut syndrome due to NEC, you need Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC on your side. Our attorneys understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll this condition can take on you and your family. We will fight for the compensation you deserve so your child can receive the best possible care and support. Contact us today at (800) 220-0984 for a free consultation.