Intestinal failure is a rare condition that occurs when your small intestine can’t absorb nutrients and fluids, causing dehydration and malnutrition. It often occurs after an intestinal blockage, a previous small intestine surgery, or a congenital condition that affects your small intestine.
UPMC experts perform intestinal transplant surgery to treat intestinal failure, providing comprehensive care before, during, and after your transplant.
Related services include:
Intestinal failure is a rare condition that occurs when your small intestine can’t absorb nutrients and fluids, causing dehydration and malnutrition. It often occurs after an intestinal blockage, a previous small intestine surgery, or a congenital condition that affects your small intestine.
If you have intestinal failure, you will be unable to absorb nutrients and fluids through your small intestine by eating and drinking. Without treatment, this can lead to malnutrition and dehydration. You may need to receive total parenteral nutrition through a vein in your arm to meet your nutrition and hydration needs.
There are three types of intestinal failure based on how long the condition lasts. Types include:
Intestinal failure is a rare condition. Research shows that chronic intestinal failure affects about 25,000 people in the U.S.
Intestinal failure typically develops after complications with other gastrointestinal conditions, such as:
Short bowel syndrome is the most common cause of intestinal failure.
You may be at higher risk of intestinal failure if you have:
Complications of intestinal failure may include:
There is nothing you can do to prevent intestinal failure.
Symptoms of intestinal failure may include:
If you are experiencing symptoms of intestinal failure, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Your doctor will perform a physical exam, ask about your symptoms, and order tests to help diagnose intestinal failure.
If your doctor suspects intestinal failure, they will:
Tests to diagnose intestinal failure may include:
Your doctor may run blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), and other tests to check for problems with your electrolytes, kidneys, liver, or nutritional and hydration status.
Imaging tests to diagnose intestinal failure may include:
Minimally invasive tests to diagnose intestinal failure may include:
Your prognosis after an intestinal failure diagnosis depends on the cause of your condition, the severity of your symptoms, your overall health, and how you respond to treatment. Your doctor will discuss your prognosis with you.
In some cases, intestinal failure is short-term and improves after healing from surgery or another injury. However, in most cases, intestinal failure is a long-term or lifelong condition that cannot be completely cured and requires ongoing treatment.
Intestinal failure can be life-threatening because it can cause complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, infection, and problems with electrolyte levels in your body.
The goal of intestinal failure treatment is to reduce the risk of additional intestinal damage and improve nutrition and hydration.
Treatment options may include:
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) helps you get nutrition and fluids through a vein in your arm, instead of by eating and drinking.
Motility treatments involve using nerve stimulation and medications to help your digestive tract function more effectively.
We offer various surgical techniques – tailored to your individual needs – for managing short bowel syndrome.
If you have intestinal failure that is irreversible and has not responded to other treatments, an intestinal transplant may be an option for you. UPMC’s transplant experts will replace your diseased small intestine with a healthy small intestine taken from a deceased donor.
When you choose UPMC for intestinal failure care, you will receive:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-12-09.
Chat Keywords List
