Transplant Center

Treatment Options

Our team of experts has developed state-of-the art surgical, medical and nutritional management methods of caring for intestinal failure patients. The program consists of  components that include intensive outpatient and inpatient care.

Outpatient Initial Assessment and Evaluation

In an outpatient setting patients can undergo a comprehensive medical and nutritional assessment. Consultation is provided to patients, families and primary care providers caring for these individuals with a variety of complex medical issues. Assessment of their current medical status, appropriateness of parenteral and/or enteral nutrition support and development of the best individualized plan of care is established.

Some patients may be advised to stay in the local area for intensive weekly clinic follow up assessment, nutrition support modifications and on-going short bowel diet education as aggressive efforts toward restoring nutritional autonomy are made. 

On campus hotel accommodations are available to patients and families to ease their stay in the Omaha area and allow for close proximity to medical resources. Lodging and Transportation

Inpatient Assessment and Care

When medically indicated, an inpatient team monitors patients on a daily basis. They medically stabilize and treat individuals while providing nutritional and behavioral modification to reduce or eliminate the need for enteral or parenteral nutrition.

Behavioral modification experts are available to work with pediatric patients and their families for maximizing oral diets and reducing nutrition support therapy.

Surgical Intervention

Assessment by an experienced surgeon specializing in the bowel and liver can lead to surgical options based on the needs of the individual. Procedures may include; ostomy takedown to restore small bowel to remaining colon for enhanced enteral absorption, small bowel lengthening and tapering procedures or reverse intestinal segments. Surgical intervention has been shown by our team of experts to enhance many patients’ ability to further enhance the nutrition support weaning progress.

The IRP team works in collaboration with the intestinal transplant program. If transplantation becomes necessary, patients benefit by a seamless transfer to our world-renown transplant team.

Research Study Participation

Options for potential drug therapy and investigational studies are available as the field of intestinal rehabilitation advances. As an adjunct therapy to standardized care, patients may experience enhanced ability for TPN weaning and restored quality of life.

The Next Steps

Referral

Patients can be referred to the Intestinal Rehabilitation Program in several ways; self referral, physicians, social workers, family and insurance carriers. A referral can be made to the transplant nurse coordinators who will be happy to answer your questions and provide information.

Referrals should include the patient’s name, date of birth, diagnosis, reason for referral, and contact information and contact information for the referral source.

To obtain more information or make an appointment, please call (402) 559-3382 or fax information to (402) 559-3434

Evaluation

Following the referral process, patients will go through an evaluation. They are seen by the interdisciplinary team during a 3 to 5-day inpatient or outpatient evaluation. During this evaluation, the team will gather information about the problems that caused IF, the treatments that have been used in the past, and the current problems that the patient is having. The team also will perform any medical tests that might be necessary to determine which treatments will be best for the patient in the future. Then, a highly individualized plan of care will be developed and implemented.

Who we can help:

• patients who struggle to maintain weight, hydration, or nutritional status without relying on intravenous support
• patients with short bowel syndrome
• patients with intestinal disease
  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • chronic malabsorptive states
  • radiation enteritis
• patients with complex surgical problems, e.g. fistulae
• patients with functional intestinal disorders, e.g. pseudo-obstruction
• patients who require specialized tube feedings for fluid or nutrients
• patients who need to reduce diarrhea and control volume of stool output