Author: C.R. Parrish
Publication Year: 2016
Price: Free.
Book funded by Shire
Carol Rees Parrish MS, RDN provides a practical overview of short bowel syndrome (SBS) focusing on common problems and management approaches in A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel (4th Edition) (publishing support from Shire, 2016). The book is well organized and written using friendly, easily understandable language. It provides high yield practical advice that can be readily incorporated into daily life. Patients will surely appreciate the numerous tables throughout the book highlighting various dietary options, both desirable and undesirable, the numerous oral rehydration solutions, including home recipes, and sample meal plans that have been organized by the presence or absence of a colon. The book also provides examples of common over-the-counter medications containing sugar thus potentially acting as unrecognized drivers of stool output. Through concrete and useful examples of everyday do’s and don’ts, patients can feel empowered and knowledgeable regarding their care.
For those seeking a deeper understanding or more information, Parrish offers ample online resources both embedded within the text and also listed in a table at the end of the book; however, the reader should note that many of these resources are more than 8-10 years old, and new information is likely available for some of the referenced topics. Additionally, the mental model of intestinal failure has been updated to consider short bowel syndrome distinct from other functional causes not related to resection or loss of bowel, such as chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction. Although much of the information presented within the book is applicable to both pediatric and adult patients with SBS, the target audience appears to be an adult population as there is no discussion regarding the unique nutritional considerations for infants and toddlers with SBS. Despite this, parents of children with SBS will still likely find the information helpful. Overall, A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel offers practical information and recommendations, most notably related to nutritional interventions, for patients living with SBS in a way that is concise, applicable, and easily accessible.
Ethan A. Mezoff, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Colleen B. Flahive, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellow
The Ohio State University College of
Medicine
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Columbus, Ohio
John Pohl, M.D., Book Editor, is on the Editorial Board of Practical Gastroenterology