What would happen if there were no small intestine?

5 Comments

1. DesertFox33 says:

   November 29, 2009 at 4:45 am

   The small intestine is where all the nutrients are absorbed into the body; the stomach only breaks the food down into nutrients. So without the small intestine, you would absorb no nutrients, and would, well, die, which would be a bit of a shame.
2. monkey_x226 says:

   November 29, 2009 at 4:45 am

   it is where all the nutrients and stuff got absorbed…so without the small intestines the body will not get any of the nutrients it needs
3. captinstunna2003 says:

   November 29, 2009 at 4:45 am

   you would die… you could live without your stomach but not your small intestine
4. leslie says:

   November 29, 2009 at 4:45 am

   although some nutrients are directly absorbed in the stomach and large intestine, the bulk of your nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. so without nutrient IV-infusion to compensate, you would become malnurited and eventually die. not fun.
5. drfjalonso says:

   November 29, 2009 at 4:45 am

   This is what usually happens to people that have a small bowel resection, usually by crohn´s disease, mesentery ischemia, etc.
   All of the nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine, so there would be nutrition deficiencies, weight loss,diarrhea, edema and fatigue.
   But actually without any small bowel there is no possibility of life. The patient should be in IV nutrition always, and this is usually possible for a couple of years or so.