Intestinal transplantation is viewed as an increasingly viable alternative to home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for patients with irreversible intestinal failure (IF). The 5-year survival of intestinal transplantation (ITx) is quoted as 37–50%⁽¹⁾. Previous work shows that 5-year survival on HPN is 73%⁽Reference Lloyd, Vega and Bassett²⁾. It has previously been shown that 37% of patients on HPN at this institution meet the criteria for referral for transplantation⁽Reference Zabron, Lloyd and Ralphs³⁾. Despite this finding, only 16% of those meeting criteria for ITx in this cohort were referred for consideration of transplantation. Follow-up data are presented on the patient cohort receiving HPN from this institution in 2005. The aims were to assess: (1) the number of patients receiving HPN at St Mark's Hospital meeting criteria for ITx; (2) the number of patients referred for ITx; (3) survival rates in this patient cohort.

All patients receiving HPN on 1 January 2005 were assessed at yearly intervals for 3 years according to the Medicare ITx criteria⁽¹⁾. Eligibility for referral for ITx was based on fulfilment of one or more of the following criteria over each 12-month period: advanced parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD); thrombosis of two or more major veins; frequent central venous catheter sepsis (two or more episodes in the previous 12 months, fungaemia or septic shock); frequent severe dehydration; patient request or quality of life⁽Reference Lloyd, Vega and Bassett²⁾.

In total 123 patients were reviewed in 2005, 122 in 2006 and 118 in 2007, the fall representing either discontinuation of HPN or death. The underlying aetiologies resulting in IF for these patients were Crohn's disease (31%), vascular (27%), pseudo-obstruction (16%), surgical complications (13%) and others (13%).

All patients with PNALD were referred for consideration of ITx. A total of 21% of patients meeting criteria for ITx for venous thrombosis were referred whereas only 6.5% of patients meeting criteria with central venous catheter sepsis were referred over the follow-up period.

Eight deaths occurred at the end of the 3-year period. Two deaths occurred in patients meeting criteria for transplantation and six deaths occurred in patients who did not meet criteria.

The referral rate for consideration of ITx was considerably lower than the number of patients meeting criteria. After 3 years the mortality is similar in patients meeting ITx criteria and those not meeting criteria. At this stage the ITx criteria are not selecting patients with a poor prognosis.