Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation

Surgery may be necessary in cases where there is an obstruction in the intestines or in cases of extreme shortening where absorption can be enhanced by operative techniques. Such techniques enhance the surface area of the intestines or prolong the transit time which enhances the exposure of the intestine to the nutrients.

In 2002, Children's doctors performed the world's first serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) procedure, a surgical technique developed by Tom Jaksic, MD and Heung Bae Kim, MD, which lengthens the bowels of children with short bowel syndrome. Since then, they have performed seven of these procedures with increasing success, establishing Children's a one of the preeminent hospitals in the world for the treatment of short bowel syndrome.

To read more about this innovative procedure, visit www.STEPoperation.org.