Benign Chronic Intestinal Failure (IICB)

Benign Chronic Intestinal Failure (IICB) is organ failure that occurs when the intestine is unable to maintain an individual’s normal state of nutrition due to the loss of the ability to take in and absorb food . Intestinal failure may be due to four pathological conditions:

1. Short bowel syndrome: consequence of intestinal or congenital resection surgery
2. chronic alterations of intestinal motility
3. Widespread and non-reversible changes in the intestinal mucosa: the intestine is affected by a disease that does not allow the absorption of nutrients
4. Intestinal fistulas: direct connections are formed between the intestine and the abdominal wall or between 2 parts of the intestine that are distant from each other, with the loss of most of the food.

Home parenteral nutrition, conducted through appropriate clinical-organizational protocols, is considered the first therapeutic option for patients with irreversible IICB.