Review: enteral nutrition reduces infections, need for surgical intervention, and length of hospital stay more than parenteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis.

MAIN RESULTS 6 trials (n=263) met the selection criteria. 4 studies had poor quality (Jadad score (2 out of 5). Meta-analysis was completed using a random effects model and intention to treat data from individual studies. Patients who received EN had a lower risk of infection than those who received PN, less need for surgical intervention, fewer septic complications, and shorter hospital stays (mean reduction 2.9 days, 95% CI 1.6 to 4.3) (table). The EN and PN groups did not differ for complications other than infections or hospital mortality (table).