Effects of different routes of nutrition support on the treatment of acute severe panereatitis

Objective To explore the safety and efficacy of early enteral nutrition in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis(SAP). Methods The data on 71 patients with SAP who received integrate treatments in our hospital during the past 5 years were retrospectively analyzed.Serum album, prealbumin, TNF-α, CD4/CD8 ratio, IgG, and endotoxin levels were measured in all the patients. 71 patients were randomly assigned to receive either enteral nutrition (EN group, n = 36) or total parenteral nutrition(TPN group,n = 35). Results Serum CD4/CD8 ratio and IgG level were significantly higher in EN group than in TPN group 14 days after treatment (P 0.05). TNF-α level was markedly declined in EN group 7 and 14 days after treatment as compared with the baseline and that in TPN group (P 0.05 for both comparisons). Serum prealbumin level was notably elevated in EN group as compared to the baseline and that in TPN group (P 0.05 for both comparisons). Conclusion Early enteral nutrition is safe and effective in the treatment of SAP. It can enhance prealbumin levels, improve patients′ nutritional state, strengthen the gut mucosal barrier function, suppress the release of inflammatory factors, increase immune function, and improve the prognosis of SAP.