To investigate the clinical value of intestinal function recovery status in judging the timing of enteral nutrition support in patients with acute pancreatitis.

A total of 156 patients who were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis from March 2017 to February 2019 and underwent fasting treatment at admission were enrolled, including 84 patients assigned to an study group and 72 patients assigned to a control group. In the study group, the timing of enteral nutrition treatment was judged based on the recovery of intestinal function. In the control group, the timing of enteral nutrition was determined according to the clinical experience of the attending physician. The time to starting enteral nutrition, multiple laboratory indicators (amylase [AMY], C-reactive protein [CRP], and white blood cells [WBC]), acute pancreatitis severity bedside index (BISAP score), adverse events (including eating intolerance, nausea, and/or vomiting), hospitalization time, hospitalization expenses, and satisfaction were compared between the two groups by the t-test or χ² test to assess the clinical value of intestinal function recovery in judging the timing of enteral nutrition.

The time to starting enteral nutrition after fasting for patients with acute pancreatitis in the study group was significantly shorter than that in the control group [(32.58±14.15) h vs (70.04±30.23) h, t=-9.65, P<0.01]. CRP and BISAP scores after treatment were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group [(36.52±26.47) mg/L vs (49.90±24.04) mg/L, (0.44±0.61) vs (0.90±0.86), t=-3.27 and -3.82, P=0.001 and <0.001, respectively]. There was no significant difference in AMY and WBC between the two groups (P>0.05). The hospitalization time of the study group was significantly shorter than that of the control group [(10.35±2.42) d vs (11.21±2.69) d, t=-2.11, P=0.037], and the score of patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group [(91.71±5.81) vs (88.94±7.09), t=2.64, P=0.009]. There was no significant difference in adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05).

Compared with judging the timing of enteral nutrition based on the clinician's clinical experience, the recovery of intestinal function in judging the timing of enteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis patients is beneficial in reducing BISAP score and CRP, shortening the hospitalization time, and improving patient satisfaction, without increasing the incidence of adverse events.