The objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term clinical significance of enteral nutrition (EN) in weaning adult short bowel patients off parenteral nutrition (PN) undergoing intestinal rehabilitation therapy (IRT). Sixty-one adult patients with small bowel length 47.95+/-19.37 cm were retrospectively analyzed. After a 3-week IRT program, including recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH, 0.05 mg/kg/d), glutamine (30 g/d), and combined EN and PN support, patients were maintained on EN or plus a high-carbohydrate, low fat (HCLF) diet. Continuous tube feeding was used when EN was started. Patients were followed up for 50.34+/-24.38 months and had an overall survival rate 95.08% (58/61). On last evaluation, 85.24% (52/61) of the patients were free of PN. For 77.42% patients (24/31) with small bowel length<35 cm in jejunoileocolic anastomosis (type III) and <60 cm in jejunocolic anastomosis (type II), weaning off PN was achieved. EN comprised of 52.56+/-13.47% of patients' daily calorie requirements on follow-up. Five patients were maintained on home PN (HPN) plus EN. Nutritional and anthropometric parameters, urine 5-hr D-xylose excretion and serum citrulline levels all increased significantly after IRT and on follow-up compared with baseline. In conclusion, with proper EN management during and after IRT, a significant number of SBS patients could be weaned from PN, especially for those who were considered as permanent intestinal failure; continuous tube feeding is recommended for enteral access, and long-term EN support could meet the daily nutritional requirement in majority of SBS patients.