Abstract
The aim was to investigate the effects of enteral nutrition support by naso-jejunal tube on the duration of hospitalization, infection, cost, and clinical prognosis in patients with SAP. Patients were allocated into the treatment group, receiving naso-jejunal tube feeding, or the control group that underwent total parenteral nutrition therapy. Naso-jejunal tube enteral nutrition support started within 48 hours of hospital admission. We compared differences in general clinical data before admission, including primary outcomes and secondary outcomes after treatment. A total of 332 patients with SAP were enrolled and general clinical data, such as age, sex, and etiology, were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the time to disappear of abdominal pain and distension, fever, nausea and vomiting, peritoneal irritation signs were significantly shorter in the treated group. Furthermore, the mean hospitalization time, and the mean hospitalization and drug costs were significantly lower. Compared with the pretreatment period, the MOS item short from health survey (SF-36) scale scores were significantly improved in both groups after treatment (P < 0.001), but the SF-36 scale scores of patients in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group. Incidence of pancreatic necrotic infection and local complications, including pneumonia, bacteremia, and cholangitis was significantly lower compared to the control group. MOF and death in the treated group were also significantly lower. naso-jejunal tube enteral nutrition support can improve the nutritional status and quality of life of patients with SAP, and avoid the waste of medical resources.