ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
There is controversy about the initiation of gastric or oral feeding in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) because they could increase pancreatic stimulation and exacerbate symptoms and complications.
OBJECTIVE:
To describe the clinical characteristics and results of patients with SAP who underwent gastric tube or oral feeding versus parenteral or jejunal feeding.
METHODS:
A retrospective study was carried out on patients over 18 years old with SAP diagnostic, who had been treated in critical care units. We excluded patients coming from other hospitals and those with incomplete medical records.
RESULTS:
Thirty patients with SAP were included, fifty three percent of them tolerated the gastric tube or oral feeding, and most of them were females and older than patients who received parenteral or jejunal feeding. Other clinical characteristics and outcomes were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Gastric tube or oral feeding is no absolute contraindication for SAP.
Keywords:
Acute necrotizing pancreatitis; enteral nutrition; parenteral nutrition