Short bowel syndrome

Short bowel syndrome (SBS, also short gut syndrome or simply short gut) is a malabsorption disorder caused by the surgical removal of the small intestine, or rarely due to the complete dysfunction of a large segment of bowel. Most cases are acquired, although some children are born with a congenital short bowel. It usually does not develop unless more than two thirds of the small intestine have been removed. SBS has been designated a rare disease by the EMA, and is eligible for orphan drug designation according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There are roughly 3,500 adults and 9,000 children with SBS in the USA alone.