Outcomes of Patients with Intestinal Failure after the Development and Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Team

• Published in: Canadian journal of gastroenterology & hepatology Vol. 2016; no. 2016; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Forget, Sylviane, Ahmed, Najma, Furtado, Sabrina, Sant’Anna, Ana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2016; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Enteral Nutrition - statistics & numerical data; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant Care - methods; Infant, Newborn; Intestinal Diseases - physiopathology; Intestinal Diseases - therapy; Intestines - physiopathology; Male; Parenteral Nutrition - statistics & numerical data; Patient Care Team - statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; Tertiary Healthcare - methods; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 2291-2789; 2291-2797
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/9132134

Aim. A multidisciplinary team was created in our institution to manage patients with intestinal failure (INFANT: INtestinal Failure Advanced Nutrition Team). We aimed to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the team on the outcomes of this patient population. Methods. Retrospective chart review of patients with intestinal failure over a 6-year period was performed. Outcomes of patients followed up by INFANT (2010–2012) were compared to a historical cohort (2007–2009). Results. Twenty-eight patients with intestinal failure were followed up by INFANT while the historical cohort was formed by 27 patients. There was no difference between the groups regarding remaining length of small and large bowel, presence of ICV, or number of infants who reached full enteral feeds. Patients followed up by INFANT took longer to attain full enteral feeds and had longer duration of PN, probably reflecting more complex cases. Overall mortality (14.8%/7.1%) was lower than other centers, probably illustrating our population of “early” intestinal failure patients. Conclusions. Our data demonstrates that the creation and implementation of a multidisciplinary program in a tertiary center without an intestinal and liver transplant program can lead to improvement in many aspects of their care.