You’ve had serious intestinal problems for a long time. But you never knew a transplant could be a treatment possibility.
We can repair a lot with an intestinal transplant. It might only be your small intestine (small bowel). Or it could include your liver and stomach. No two severe gut conditions or intestinal failures are alike — or start for the same reasons. And the same is true for this kind of transplant surgery.
The idea of having an intestinal transplant may be overwhelming. But Cleveland Clinic’s experienced transplant team is here to help. Have questions? Ask away. Feeling worried? Let us know what’s on your mind. We want you to understand every step of your treatment journey. And to feel empowered to actively manage every part of your care.
From the moment you contact Cleveland Clinic, you can count on compassionate care and support. Not to mention expert care from the leading intestinal transplant surgery team in the U.S. Our healthcare providers answer your questions, listen carefully and guide you through every step of treatment, recovery and beyond. Meet our team.
Only a handful of U.S. hospitals do intestinal transplant surgery. Cleveland Clinic is one of them. We’re also the largest provider of this specialized treatment in the country. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) ranks us #1 nationally for intestinal transplant care.
When you come to Cleveland Clinic for an intestinal transplant, you may have a lot of questions and concerns. Our caring team is here to help you feel more at ease with your treatment plan, which we tailor to your needs and unique diagnosis. We make sure you have all the information you need to move forward with surgery.
It takes a meeting of the minds and skills for a successful intestinal transplant and recovery. Our team of surgeons, gastroenterologists, dietitians, nurses, rehabilitation experts and other skilled, caring providers works together to make sure you get the most personalized care and best possible results.
From second opinions to quick follow-ups and check-ins with your transplant team, not all appointments need to be in person. Cleveland Clinic’s virtual visits help you get the same great care from your providers — without leaving home.
Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.
Many different conditions cause damage that can lead to an intestinal transplant. A blood clot or another problem that blocks normal blood flow to your intestines (mesenteric ischemia or intestinal ischemic syndrome) is usually the top reason. You may also hear it called “ischemic gut.” And if you have this condition, it usually means your intestines can’t survive.
Complications with inflammatory bowel conditions like severe, long-term Crohn’s disease are another reason you may need a transplant. Other things like infections, short bowel syndrome or injuries can also trigger damaging intestinal and nutritional problems. Or you may have growths like desmoid tumors in your abdominal cavity (where your intestines and other digestive system organs are).
Finally, a blood clot in your portal vein may cause a condition known as extensive portal vein thrombosis. In this case, you may need several organs — your liver, stomach, pancreas and intestine — transplanted (multivisceral transplantation).
These are just some, but not the only, reasons why we may recommend you have an intestinal transplant. Before we decide, we’ll confirm your diagnosis during an evaluation to make sure you’re a good transplant candidate.
Before our team recommends an intestinal transplant, we move through a series of steps to find out if it’s the best treatment for your condition and needs.
You can connect with us for an evaluation in different ways. Your primary care or healthcare provider might recommend that you contact us. Or you may decide to reach out and schedule an appointment. No matter how you come to us, our scheduler will talk with you about your health and ask that you share your existing medical records to get things started.
Evaluation and testing for an intestinal transplant can take about two weeks from start to finish. You’ll have different lab tests and imaging tests, like CT scans and a GI (gastrointestinal) follow-through study. And you’ll also meet with different providers on the transplant team. The goal? To see if you’re a good candidate for surgery, recovery and rehabilitation. This means considering your health risks, emotional and mental health and overall predictions for the best possible results. It all guides the transplant team’s decision.
Intestinal transplants use organs from deceased donors who need to match with you. So, if the transplant team approves the transplant, and you want to move forward, you’ll join an organ donation waiting list. Your care team will keep you updated on your match status. And when an organ does become available, you’ll need to travel to Cleveland Clinic right away to prep for surgery.
A successful intestinal transplant journey takes the shared experience of providers from different specialties, like:
Your intestinal transplant team works to build a personalized treatment plan. And they stay by your side through recovery and follow-up care.
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations in Northeast Ohio and Florida.
Once you match with a donor, our experienced team will do your surgery immediately. Most intestinal transplant surgeries last between six and 12 hours. After surgery, you’ll spend some time in our intensive care unit (ICU) so we can keep a close eye on you. You’ll then move to an area specifically for transplant recovery. How long you stay in the hospital will depend on your recovery progress.
Once you leave the hospital, it’s important to remember that recovery from intestinal transplant surgery takes time. For about four to six months, you’ll have to take it easy. And you’ll have regular follow-up appointments and testing for the rest of your life. This lets your providers make sure your transplant is doing well and helps them catch complications quickly.
Learning you may need an intestinal transplant is a lot to think about. But it also offers hope when your digestive system has stopped working like it should. From the moment you first reach out to us, you can feel confident that our experienced, caring team of healthcare providers is on your side. Our team guides you through every step of the transplant process. And we’re here to help you stay as healthy as possible — long after you leave the operating room and get back to living your best life.
Getting an appointment with one of our intestinal transplant experts is easy. We’re here to help you get the care you need.
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