Endoscopic Follow-up of Intestinal Transplant Recipients

Abstract

The growing population of intestinal transplant recipients present a unique challenge to the gastroenterologists responsible for their support and evaluation. Improvements in patient and graft survival are largely attributed to surgical advancements, refined antirejection therapy, and enhanced endoscopic surveillance protocols that better perceive rejection and other complications. This article reviews the endoscopic management and interventions provided for transplant recipients at the University of Illinois Hospital with complications, such as acute rejection, ischemia, bleeding, fistula, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, and gastroparesis. Further research is needed on promising strategies currently used for related diseases to treat and sustain the intestinal graft.

Keywords: Acute rejection; Intestinal transplant complications; Intestine transplant; Magnification endoscopy; Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder; Research directions in intestine transplants; Twin transplants.