Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and intestinal transplant are not the only options for treating gastrointestinal disorders. Many people might be candidates for advanced rehabilitative techniques that restore their intestinal function without requiring intestinal transplantation.
At UPMC, our surgeons, gastroenterologists, intensivists, pharmacists, and dietitians work together to provide you with the most advanced treatments available.
What Is Intestinal Rehabilitation?
Intestinal rehabilitation can include medical, nutritional, or surgical techniques to provide you with the nutrition and hydration you need while enhancing your quality of life. It also allows many people to enjoy an oral diet without the need for intravenous or enteral (tube feeding) nutrition.
What Conditions Do We Treat?
We treat intestinal failure caused by:
- Abdominal trauma.
- Abdominal disorders.
- Complex abdominal pathology.
- Desmoid tumors or aggressive fibromatosis.
- End-stage Crohn’s disease.
- Enterocutaneous fistulas.
- Gastric bypass surgery complications.
- Gastroparesis.
- Intestinal failure.
- Intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndrome.
- Irresectable abdominal tumors.
- Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS).
- Mesenteric ischemia.
- Ostomy closure.
- Other gut disorders.
- Portal hypertension.
- Portal mesenteric vein thrombosis.
- Radiation enteritis.
- Recurrent small bowel obstruction or adhesions.
- Short-gut syndrome (also known as small bowel syndrome).
- Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS).
Who’s Eligible for Intestinal Rehabilitation?
People with all types of gastrointestinal disorders may qualify for intestinal rehabilitation without the need for transplant.
What Services, Treatments, and Procedures Do We Offer?
We offer a full spectrum of services to restore digestive health and improve quality of life, including:
General services
- Financial counseling and insurance support.
- Multidisciplinary care coordination.
- Patient and caregiver education.
Diagnostic services and procedures
- Imaging and lab testing.
- Nutritional assessments.
Specialty services
- Intestinal rehabilitation to reduce or eliminate total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or tube feeding dependence.
- Medical or surgical rehabilitative techniques.
- Nutrition management, including enteral nutrition (tube feeding), diet modification, and electrolyte and fluid management.
- Veteran care coordination through VA partnership.
What Can I Expect?
The team at UPMC will evaluate you and form an intestinal rehab treatment plan that meets your personal needs. When appropriate, we will rehabilitate the bowel to try to eliminate the need for TPN therapy.
We tailor your management and treatment plan to:
- Any related abdominal pathology or conditions.
- Your individual anatomy and the function of your remaining bowel.
- The extent of damage to your intestine.
Intestinal rehabilitation is an option for many people; however, intestinal transplant may still be a better treatment option for people with irreversible intestinal failure or abdominal pathologies.
Your care team
Your care team will include:
- Intestinal rehabilitation physician — Oversees your intestinal rehabilitation care and treatment.
- Pharmacist — Helps you manage your medications.
- Physician assistant — Assists with medical questions, education, and concerns throughout the rehabilitation process.
- Registered dietitian — Manages your nutritional needs.
- Social worker — Meets with you throughout your rehabilitation to discuss long-term coping strategies and adjustments.
Why Choose UPMC for Intestinal Rehabilitation?
When you choose UPMC for intestinal rehabilitation, you will have access to:
- A multidisciplinary team — Includes surgeons, gastroenterologists, dietitians, and more.
- Expertise — Our team is among the leading intestinal rehabilitation and transplant programs in the world.
- Outstanding outcomes — Research shows that early referral can increase the chances of successful intestinal rehabilitation outcomes.
- Veteran care — Dedicated services through VA partnership.
Contact Us
We’re here to help you take the next step.
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-12-09.
