Children with intestinal failure must complete an evaluation process before entering the UCSF Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation Program. Our team reviews each child's complete medical history, including the primary diagnosis, previous surgeries and treatments and current nutritional status, to determine whether the child will benefit from intestinal rehabilitation.

The evaluation process includes:

• Consultations with a gastroenterologist and nurse practitioner, surgeon, nutritionist and social worker
• Laboratory tests
• Radiological tests
• Additional tests when necessary, such as endoscopy with biopsy, gastrointestinal motility testing, breath hydrogen testing for bacterial overgrowth or malabsorption, and imaging tests such as an abdominal CT scan

After the evaluation process is completed, our team determines if your child should be admitted into the program. If your child is admitted, a comprehensive, individual treatment plan is designed to best meet his or her needs.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 16, 2012