U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
The intestine
The transverse colon extends across the abdomen from right to left. The descending colon is the middle part of the colon located on the left side of the abdomen. The large intestine goes from the cecum to the rectum. Measuring about twenty feet, the small intestine is where most digestion occurs. It also includes the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The appendix is a tubular organ connected to the large intestine. The rectum is the lower end of the large intestine, which leads to the anus.
Functions of the Intestine
The intestine is the lower part of the alimentary canal. It extends from the stomach to the anus. The upper part, the small intestine, is narrow and convoluted. It provides further digestion of food and absorbs nutrients from the digested food. The lower part, the large intestine, is wider and reabsorbs water from the digested foods and sends it back into the blood stream.
Intestine transplant procedures
An intestine transplant may involve the whole intestine or an intestine segment. Most of the intestine transplants are whole organ transplants and are performed in conjunction with a liver transplant. Intestine transplants usually involve a cadaveric donor though it is possible for a living donor to donate an intestine segment.
Reasons for intestine transplants
| Intestine diagnosis |
|---|
| Short Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Atresia |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Necrotizing Enterocolitis |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Volvulus Secondary to Malrotation |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Volvulus Secondary to Adhesions |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Volvulus Secondary to Persistent Omphalomesenteric Duct |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Gastroschisis |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Massive Resection Secondary to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease) |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Massive Resection Secondary to Tumor |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Massive Resection Secondary to Mesenteric Arterial Thrombosis or Embolus |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Massive Resection Secondary to Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Specify |
| Short Gut Syndrome: Unspecified |
| Functional Bowel Problem: Hirschsprung's Disease |
| Functional Bowel Problem: Neuronal Intestinal Dysplasia |
| Functional Bowel Problem: Pseudo-obstruction, Neuropathic |
| Functional Bowel Problem: Pseudo-obstruction, Myopathic |
| Functional Bowel Problem: Protein-losing Enteropathy |
| Functional Bowel Problem: Microvillous Inclusion Disease |
| Functional Bowel Problem: Specify |
| Functional Bowel Problem: Unspecified |
| Graft Failure |
| Retransplant |
| Other Intestinal Disease |