Effect and safety of probiotics combined early enteral nutrition on severe acute pancreatitis patients

Background: Probiotics and enteral nutrition have been shown to be beneficial in reducing the infection rate in animal experiments and primary clinical trials. The aim of this study was to examine the effects and safety of probiotics combined enteral nutrition in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Methods: One hundred and twenty severe acute pancreatitis patients were randomly divided into two groups receiving routine treatment and parenteral nutrition and probiotics combined enteral nutrition. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores, complications (systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multi-organ failure, and infections), plasma albumin, amylase, symptom disappearance time, average hospitalization time, and rate of infection were evaluated. Results: The baseline data show balance, and the two groups were comparable. The incidence of infection in treatment and control group was 6.7% and 20.0%, and the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in two groups was 11.7% and 26.7%. There were statistical differences between treatment and control group. The incidence of mortality in the two groups was 3.4% and 11.8%, and there was no statistical difference. Compared to control group, the treatment group has higher level amylase and lower albumin (P=0.031, P<0.001). Moreover, the treatment group have shorter duration of abdomen pain and hospitalization. Conclusion: These findings suggested that probiotics could play a beneficial role in the treatment of Severe Acute Pancreatitis (SAP), and combination therapy can promote the effect of therapeutic.