The Intestinal Rehabilitation Program is designed to provide a comprehensive range of services for patients diagnosed with severe gastrointestinal dysfunction or failure. Patients with intestinal failure often have short bowel syndrome, but some with adequate bowel length are unable to adequately absorb their diet and become malnourished.

While there are many conditions that cause malabsorption, the most common ones are Crohn’s disease, radiation enteritis and previous gastrointestinal surgery. A comprehensive assessment is performed to determine the absorptive function of the gastrointestinal tract and to determine if any nutritional deficiencies have developed. A dietary prescription is determined based on the structure and function of the remaining gastrointestinal tract. Intensive dietary instruction is provided to teach patients about the diet that will be most readily absorbed and how to consume it. Medications are prescribed to improve digestive and absorptive function of the remaining bowel.

A small number of patients are found to have out-of-circuit bowel as a result of previous surgery that can be put back in continuity with the bowel that is exposed to food so that absorptive function can be improved. Patients requiring parenteral nutrition may be candidates for growth factors to help promote intestinal adaptation and decrease their reliance on parenteral nutrition. The goal of the program is to improve the function of the remaining bowel and return patients back to a more normal life.

Those who should consider intestinal rehabilitation include patients:

  • with short bowel syndrome
  • with malabsorption syndrome
  • with intestinal failure or severe gastrointestinal dysfunction
  • seeking to reduce of eliminate the need for parenteral nutrition
  • struggling to maintain their weight or nutritional status (including hydration) without relying on intravenous fluid
  • having repeated episodes of inflammatory bowel disease which interferes with maintaining a normal nutritional status
  • with chronic diarrhea, dehydration or weight loss due to malabsorption
  • with intestinal disease (e.g., Crohn’s Disease, Radiation Enteritis)
  • who need to reduce diarrhea and control stool output
  • who need to gain weight

Clinical support staff:

Neha Parekh, MS, RD, LD, CNSD

Nutrition Manager, Intestinal Rehabilitation Program
Office: 216.445.2090
Fax: 216.636.1529
Board Certification: Registered Dietitian, Licensed Dietitian, Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian
Advanced Training: Case Western Reserve University, New York University
Specialty Interests: Intestinal rehabilitation, nutrition support, body composition
Locations: Main Campus

Cristiano Quintini, MD

Specialty: General Surgery
Title: Surgical Director Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Program
Phone: 216.445.3388
Fax: 216.444.9375
Medical School: Universita di Bologna Facolta di Medicina e Chirugia Bologna,
Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, Ohio; Jackson Memorial Hospital - Miami Florida
Specialty Interests: Living donor liver transplantation, liver transplant surgery, intestinal transplant and surgery
Location: Main Campus

Ezra Steiger, MD

Speciality: General Surgery
Title: Consultant, Department of General Surgery, Director, Intestinal Rehabilitation Program, Co-
Director, Nutrition Support Team
Phone: 216.444.6667
Fax: 216.444.9111
Medical School: The Ohio State University
Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Interests: Malnutrition, parenteral and enteral nutrition, intestinal rehabilitation