Characteristics of adult intestinal failure centers: An international multicenter survey

Narisorn Lakananurak, Lisa Moccia, Elizabeth Wall, Jean Herlitz, Hilary Catron, Edward Lozano, Adela Delgado, Tim Vanuytsel, David Mercer, Sophie Pevny, Mark Berner-Hansen, Leah Gramlich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Current guidelines recommend that patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) should be managed by a multidisciplinary team (MDT). However, the characteristics of real-world IF centers and the patients they care for are lacking. The study aims to describe IF center characteristics as well as characteristics of patients with CIF across different global regions. Methods: This is an international multicenter study of adult IF centers using a survey. The questionnaire survey included questions regarding program and patient characteristics. Thirty-three investigational centers were invited to participate. Each center was asked to answer the survey questions as one MDT. Results: The survey center response rate was 91%. The median number of patients with CIF per center was 128 (range, 30–380). The most common disciplines reported were gastroenterologist (93%), dietitian (90%), nurse (83%), and advanced practitioner (nurse practitioner and physician assistant, 77%). There were centers that did not have a pharmacist, surgeon, psychologist, and social worker (30%, 37%, 60%, and 70%, respectively). The median full-time equivalents (FTEs) per 100 patients were 1.1 for nurses, 1 for dietitians, 1 for advanced practitioners, and 0.9 for gastroenterologists. Short bowel syndrome was the most common cause of CIF (50%) followed by intestinal dysmotility (20%). Conclusion: The majority of centers were managing around 100 patients with CIF. Despite the widespread use of the MDT, there are some variances in team characteristics. Gastroenterologists were the most common physicians supporting MDTs. In IF centers, one FTE of each core discipline was supported to manage 100 patients with CIF.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)657-663
Number of pages7
JournalNutrition in Clinical Practice
Volume38
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2023

Keywords

  • home nutrition support
  • intestinal failure
  • patient care team
  • survey

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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