Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) is a clinical entity that arises as a result of irreversible impairment of intestinal blood flow. This syndrome is often defined in terms of the length or the percentage of the remaining intestine. But the major facts about this syndrome are the function of the remaining intestine and the short and long term complications of intestinal resection. Malnutrition, vitamin deficiency and growth retardation in children caused by diminished food absorption as well as dehydration and infectious complications are among these short and long term complications.

The treatment of SBS is complex, usually life-long and expensive requiring a full multidisciplinary approach. Furthermore, all treatment modalities have their own side-effects which must be handled cautiously. None of these medical/surgical therapeutic modalities has been addressed as the ideal treatment so far and debate still goes on to find out additional modalities for treatment.

This review intends to summarize the current status about the causes, complications and treatment alternatives of SBS.