IS EARLY ENTERAL NUTRITION IN ACUTE-PANCREATITIS DANGEROUS - ABOUT 20PATIENTS FED BY AN ENDOSCOPICALLY PLACED NASOGASTROJEJUNAL TUBE

Bowel rest during treatment of acute pancreatitis deprives the gut of nutrients and affects its structure and function. Enteral feeding is u sually performed late in the course of acute pancreatitis and therefor e cannot prevent intestinal barrier dysfunction and possible bacterial translocation. To assess the effect of early enteral nutrition we per formed a prospective study on 21 patients (11 males/10 females) presen ting with severe acute pancreatitis (13 biliary, 6 alcoholic, and 2 mi scellaneous). Severity was established by a mean Ranson score of 3.57. All but one patient could be fed through a double-lumen nasogastrojej unal tube within 60 h after admission. No significant complication of the technique was observed. We conclude that early jejunal feeding can be used safely in severe acute pancreatitis. Further comparative stud ies are necessary to demonstrate any superiority to total parenteral n utrition.