To compare the therapy effect, hospitalization time and hospitalization costs between early application of naso-jejunal feeding tube and total parenteral nutrition for elderly biliary severe acute panereatitis patients.

One hundred elderly biliary acute pancreatitis patients (aged ≥60 years old) between January 2012 and December 2015 were analyzed. They were divided into 2 groups according to the random number table: naso-jejunal feeding tube enteral nutrition (EEN group, 50 patients) and total parenteral nutrition (TPN group, 50 patients). Blood amylase, urinary amylase, blood albumin, C-reactive protein, average hospitalization stay, and average hospitalization costs were detected and compared 7, 14 days after nutritional support, to compare curative effect of the two nutritional support methods.

(1) 7 days after nutritional support treatment, the level of blood amylase, urinary amylase, C reactive protein in EEN group was lower than TPN group, with significant difference between the two groups (t=2.714, 11.782, 2.310, P=0.008, 0.010, 0.023). There was no significant difference between the two groups in serum albumin. (2) On the 14th day after nutritional support treatment, the level of blood amylase, urinary amylase, C reactive protein in EEN group was lower than TPN group, with significant difference between the two groups (t=2.218, 20.063, 10.164, P=0.030, 0.014, 0.007). The level of blood albumin in EEN group was significantly higher than TPN group (t=4.007, P=0.001). (3) During the period of hospitalization, the mortality, the average length of stay and hospitalization expenses of EEN group were significantly less than those of TPN group, and the differences were statistically significant (χ²=4.000, P=0.046; t=2.466, P=0.015; t=2.015, P=0.047).

It is feasible of enteral nutrition for the elderly patients with biliary severe acute pancreatitis, with satisfactory clinical treatment effect and reduced hospitalization time and costs.