Early enteral nutrition for severe acute pancreatitis                  LI Wei-qin. Research Institute of General Surgery，Jinling Hospital Clinical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
Abstract    In recent years, the nutrition pattern for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is changing dramatically, which can be divided into three stages: total parenteral nutrition, stage nutrition support and early enteral nutrition. Early enteral nutrition (EEN) has been developed since early 21st century. In acute phase of SAP, once haemodynamics and homeostasis are stable, jejunal tube should be placed and enteral feeding should be started. Supplemental parenteral nutrition should be used only in patients who cannot be fed suf?ciently via the enteral route. Early enteral nutrition is not only “feeding”, EEN can decrease excessive inflammtion response and prevent enterogenic infection. There is growing evidence that EEN can improve prognosis and reduce pancreatic necrotic infection in SAP patients.