Intestinal lengthening via mechanical enterogenesis in an infant with short gut syndrome

Abstract

Mechanical enterogenesis is the induction of intestinal tissue proliferation through the application of mechanical force. This technique has been shown to induce permanent intestinal growth in studies predominantly involving animal models. There is now a growing interest in the potential therapeutic applications of mechanical enterogenesis for intestinal failure, though the effects in humans have not been well-characterized. We present a case of a male infant with short gut syndrome secondary to necrotizing enterocolitis who underwent successful ileal lengthening via mechanical enterogenesis using a novel catheter-based method. After 20 days of gradual applied distraction, we observed a doubling of ileal segment length from 1cm to 2cm with increased intestinal absorption over the period of intestinal lengthening. Furthermore, we observed no significant impact on the infant's growth trajectory. This case demonstrates the successful application of a new method of mechanical enterogenesis and provides early support for therapeutic application in patients with short gut syndrome.