SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF A YOUNG PATIENT WITH SHORT BOWEL SYNDROME AND SEVERE UNDERLYING AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

On the morning of January 20, 2025, the General Surgery Department at Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital announced the successful treatment of a young patient diagnosed with short bowel syndrome (SBS) due to necrotizing enteritis, along with a history of severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and multiple life-threatening complications.

Successful Treatment Of A Young Patient With Short Bowel Syndrome And Severe Underlying Autoimmune Disease

According to Dr. Mai Van Dung, MMed, Specialist Level I at the General Surgery Department, the patient was a 24-year-old Cambodian female who was admitted via emergency with a diagnosis of short bowel syndrome caused by necrotizing enteritis. She had previously undergone ileostomy with only one intestinal end diverted through the abdominal wall. Without timely intervention, her prognosis was extremely poor, with a high risk of death.

In addition to SBS, the patient had a known history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and circulating anticoagulant antibodies. At the time of admission, she was also in a critical condition with severe malnutrition, coagulopathy, and acute renal failure.

Following a hospital-wide multidisciplinary consultation, the medical team decided to perform an exploratory laparotomy with adhesiolysis and bowel continuity restoration — a critical step to improve the patient’s quality of life and survival chances. With meticulous preparation and a tailored surgical approach, the operation was more successful than expected. The patient recovered well and was discharged just seven days after surgery.

Correcting previous surgical limitations

Dr. Dung further explained that, typically, cases of necrotizing enteritis are managed by creating a double-barrel stoma, allowing for reinfusion of digestive fluids through the distal limb of the stoma — which helps prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, common complications of short bowel syndrome.

However, in this case, the patient’s previous surgery involved a single-limb ileostomy, without distal limb access. As a result, she suffered severe dehydration, electrolyte loss, and subsequent acute renal failure, all of which exacerbated her underlying lupus condition. Surgical bowel reconnection was urgently required to restore intestinal function and save the patient’s life.

Thanks to the experience of the surgical team and comprehensive perioperative care, the patient not only survived this complex and high-risk condition but also regained nutritional stability and organ function postoperatively.

Thank you to Thanh Nien, Sai Gon Giai Phong and Dan Tri for helping raise public awareness about this important case.

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital

No. 88, Street No. 8, Trung Son Residential Area, Binh Hung Commune, Ho Chi Minh City.

Hotline: 18006767

info@nih.com.vn

BRC: No. 0312088602, issued on December 14th, 2012 by the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City. Medical Examination and Treatment License No. 230/BYT-GPHĐ, issued by the Ministry of Health.