Benefits and risks of a bowel transplant
How a bowel transplant can help and problems that might occur
Key points
- A bowel transplant is the best treatment for some patients with complications of intravenous feeding
- Most people who have a bowel transplant do well afterwards
- However, not every patient feels better or lives longer after having a transplant
- There can be serious risks from the surgery and the transplant medicine
What are the benefits?
In selected patients, a bowel transplant may be the best treatment for complications associated with intravenous feeding in patients who are fit enough for the operation.
Main advantages of a successful bowel transplant:
- No longer dependent on intravenous feeding
- Many bowel transplant patients live longer
- Many enjoy a better quality of life
- Less chance of dying from infections
- Many people say they have extra energy
- More likely to return to normal activities such as work and travel
What are the risks?
A bowel transplant requires complex surgery and can cause problems for some patients.
Main complications of a bowel transplant:
- It is a major operation and comes with surgical risks, like bleeding
- You will need to take strong medicines to suppress your immune system. Infections are common
- You may need further surgery to fix any problems
- It is possible that the transplanted bowel (or other organs) does not work properly
Average survival statistics
84 out of 100
Patients are alive one year after a bowel transplant*
71 out of 100
Patients are alive five years after a bowel transplant*
Discuss your options with your bowel doctor (gastroenterologist)
If you’re considering a bowel transplant, your first step is to talk to your bowel doctor.
If you and your doctor agree a bowel transplant may be a good treatment for you, they will arrange for you to meet the bowel transplant team who will arrange a series of tests.