Effects of Micro-Ecological Enteral Nutrition on Systemic Inflammatory Response, Bacterial Translocation, and Immune Function in Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Abstract

We have evaluated the effect of early and late micro-ecological enteral nutrition on systemic inflammatory response, bacterial translocation, and immune function in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Two weeks after treatment, experimental group receiving early nutritional intervention exhibited a significant increase in intestinal lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, fewer staphylococci, and E. coli, and lower levels of serum endotoxin, D-lactic acid, and diamine oxidase than the group receiving late intervention (control group) (P < 0.05). Also, the serum levels of CD3+ and CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio significantly increase after 2 weeks of intervention. On the other hand, the level of CD8+ and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Modified Computed Tomography Severity Index scores significantly decreased after 2 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). The early intervention also led to a significant shortening of time needed for abdominal pain relief, anal exhaustion, resumption of peristaltic sound, and hospitalization. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in overall response rate, and decrease in the incidence rate of complications (P < 0.05). Early micro-ecological enteral nutrition therapy can effectively relieve systemic inflammatory response, prevent intestinal bacterial translocation, restore the function of intestinal mucosal barrier, and alleviate nutritional imbalance in severe acute pancreatitis patients leading to improved immune function, mitigation of the disease, and reduced complications benefiting the recovery of patients.