Small bowel bacterial overgrowth as a cause of chronic diarrhea after liver transplantation in children

D. R. Mack, A. Dhawan, S. S. Kaufman, A. N. Langnas, T. A. Seemayer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Children who have undergone liver transplantation may develop chronic diarrhea for a number of reasons. Three children who underwent liver transplantation for liver failure, all of whom had previous biliary and intestinal surgeries and whose postoperative course was marked by signs and symptoms of intestinal malabsorption including chronic diarrhea, are described. Duodenal aspirates showed a panoply of bacterial species, and duodenal histology featured villus atrophy in two: one associated with luminal gram-positive cocci and another with acute and chronic duodenitis. Oral antibiotics cleared the symptoms. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth may need to be considered in children with chronic diarrhea after liver transplantation, especially when previous intestinal surgery has taken place. Long-term antibiotic therapy may be required to effectively eradicate the offending organisms to suppress symptoms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)166-169
Number of pages4
JournalLiver Transplantation and Surgery
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Hepatology

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