M. Tashiro, T. Akiyama, K. Mitsuoka, H. Shirohara, M. Otsuki
Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational
and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Japan

        Introduction: To demonstrate feasible and safe oral nutrition in acute pancreatitis patients, ingestion of liquid diet was started in 6 patients with acute pancreatitis who were free from abdominal pain but had still increased serum levels of pancreatic enzymes.

        Methods: On day 1, the patients ingested 60 kcal of liquid diet (1 kcal/ml) for 5 times during a 3-min period with an interval of 1 hour under support of parental nutrition. On day 2 and 3, parental nutrition was discontinued and the patients took 300 kcal of liquid diet (1 kcal/ml) 3 times a day if they had no abdominal pain or abnormal physical findings. After day 4, the patients started low fat meal. Blood was obtained before and after refeeding to determine changes of pancreatic enzyme, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein.

        Results: Oral feeding of liquid diet did not exacerbate abdominal pain or increase serum levels of pancreatic enzymes, white blood cell count and C-reactive protein.

        Conclusions: We propose that this method of oral nutrition with liquid meal is well tolerated and may be feasible and safe for acute pancreatitis.