What is the preferred nutritional route in severe acute pancreatitis within the first 48 hours?

What is the preferred nutritional route in severe acute pancreatitis within the first 48 hours?

• A. Parenteral nutrition
• B. Continuous enteral feeding
• C. Oral feeding
• D. No feeding

Answer: (B)

Early feeding via the gut is favored in severe acute pancreatitis because it helps protect the gut lining and reduce systemic infection. Initiating a continuous enteral feeding within the first 24–48 hours supports the intestinal barrier, decreases bacterial translocation, and lowers infectious complications and mortality compared with parenteral nutrition or no feeding. In this context, delivering nutrients continuously through the enteral route is better tolerated and more beneficial than delaying feeding. Oral feeding is typically not feasible in the initial phase due to pain and ileus. Parenteral nutrition avoids the gut but is associated with higher infection risk and worse outcomes, so it’s reserved if enteral feeding cannot be used.

Early feeding via the gut is favored in severe acute pancreatitis because it helps protect the gut lining and reduce systemic infection. Initiating a continuous enteral feeding within the first 24–48 hours supports the intestinal barrier, decreases bacterial translocation, and lowers infectious complications and mortality compared with parenteral nutrition or no feeding. In this context, delivering nutrients continuously through the enteral route is better tolerated and more beneficial than delaying feeding. Oral feeding is typically not feasible in the initial phase due to pain and ileus. Parenteral nutrition avoids the gut but is associated with higher infection risk and worse outcomes, so it’s reserved if enteral feeding cannot be used.