ABSTRACT
Although an urgent need exists, the history of human small intestine grafting has been characterized so far largely by set-backs. To date, small intestines have been transplanted in seven cases only. More difficult experimental problems inherent to the small intestine graft arise. It is important to distinguish between two different types of experimental small intestine transplantation: auxiliary transplantation, in which the small intestine of the recipient is not removed and the transplant is grafted in addition to the recipient’s organ, and orthotopic transplantation, in which the small intestine of the recipient is removed and replaced in orthotopic position by the transplanted organ. The principle difference between the various models for auxiliary heterotopic small intestine transplantation lies in the manner in which the oral and aboral ends of the graft are handled. All auxiliary models of small intestine transplantation have the disadvantage that they do not represent the normal anatomical situation.
