The short bowel syndrome represents the pathophysiological and clinical consequences, following extensive resection or loss of specific function of small intestine, failing adequate comensatory mechanismus. Present therapeutic options allow such patients an acceptable lifestyle. In selected cases, reintroduction into gainful employment becomes feasible. The prolonged adaptive process necessitates interdisciplinary therapeutic efforts, including medical, nutritional, social and psychological approaches. Suitably equipped rehabilitationcentres can successfully handle a considerable proportion of these measures, especially in the framework of an in-patient rehabilitation treatment programme. This article summarizes the physiology, pathophysiology, adaptive mechanisms, clinical picture and presents therapeutic options. In conclusion, sociomedical viewpoints are being discussed.