Can you live without a large intestine?

Answer 1

Yes, but only with medical support. Individuals who have the large intestine removed, or with an intestinal bypass, may have their ileum directly connected to the colon or rectum, and will not utilize the large intestine (an ileostomy is often used as an intermediate step). Since absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine, this allows continued metabolism. However, this condition can lead to dehydration due to lack of water absoption, and deficiencies of some vitamins that are taken in through the large intestine.

Answer 2

Of course you can, I am proof of that. 10 years ago my large intestine burst, in an emergency surgery they had to remove all of the large intestine and a section of small intestine. Immediately following the surgery I had to have an ileostomy, that is the illeum section of the small bowel sticking out of your belly and you have a bag attached to it. After allowing my body to heal for 3 months they then reconnected my small intestine to the remaining rectum so I no longer have a ileostomy. It does certainly change your life as there are many things that I can no longer eat and food goes through me very quickly, although now it is slower than it was at first, I can usually go a couple hours before I have to go where in the beginning it was about 15 minutes. Also you always have diarrhea, there are some foods that will thicken it up a little (like bananas for example) but I will never have a formed stool again. I am much healthier now than I was before the surgeries, it saved my life to lose my large intestine.

Answer 3

You can live live without your large intestines but not without your small intestines. Your large intestine absorbs water but the small absorbs all of the nutrients you need. There are no substitutes for the small intestine.

Answer 4

You would be able to live for a short, VERY SHORT, period of time after having them out, because all of your faeces would fill up inside you from the other organs.

Answer 5

Yes, you can live without the large intestines,

Answer 6

Because you have a small intestine too.

Answer 7

NO