Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Mar 27, 2026; 18(3): 115972
Published online Mar 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i3.115972
Published online Mar 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i3.115972
Efficacy of early enteral nutrition in patients with severe acute pancreatitis: A prospective cohort study
Mei-Lan Jiang, Jian-Ping Bao, Fang-Gen Xu, Department of Gastroenterology, Gaoxin Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
Si-Cong Jiang, Division of Thoracic and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva 41211, Switzerland
Author contributions: Jiang ML contributed to study conception and design, data acquisition, statistical analysis, and drafting of the manuscript; Bao JP and Jiang SC participated in patient enrollment, data collection, and interpretation of clinical outcomes; Xu FG supervised the study, provided critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and served as the corresponding author. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Application for Key Discipline Construction Project of High Tech Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. GX2D20247402.
Institutional review board statement: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University.
Clinical trial registration statement: This study was conducted prospectively. According to the characteristics of the study design, it was not registered in a clinical trial registry prior to initiation.
Informed consent statement: All study participants, or their legal guardian, provided informed written consent prior to study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
CONSORT 2010 statement: The authors have read the CONSORT 2010 statement, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CONSORT 2010 statement.
Data sharing statement: If you need data, please contact the corresponding author.
Corresponding author: Fang-Gen Xu, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Gaoxin Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 7889 Changdong Avenue, High Tech Zone, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China. 13607988780@163.com
Received: December 2, 2025
Revised: January 1, 2026
Accepted: January 19, 2026
Published online: March 27, 2026
Processing time: 115 Days and 3.4 Hours
Revised: January 1, 2026
Accepted: January 19, 2026
Published online: March 27, 2026
Processing time: 115 Days and 3.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This prospective cohort study evaluated the effects of early enteral nutrition (EEN), which was initiated within 48 hours, on clinical outcomes in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). In comparison to delayed enteral nutrition (EN), EEN notably decreased mortality, infectious complications, and organ failure, while also reducing hospitalization duration and enhancing the restoration of gut barrier function. The incidence of feeding intolerance did not rise with the prompt initiation of therapy. These results underscore the importance of timely EN as a secure and efficient therapeutic approach to enhance the prognosis of SAP patients, emphasizing its significance in clinical care.