Abstract

Background: Nutritional support is an important aspect in the management of acute pancreatits. Upto the mid 1990's, total parenteral nutrition had been comprehensively recommended in the acute phase of pancreatitis. Presently enteral nutrition has replaced parenteral nutrition.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of our study is to compare nasogastric feeding and nasojejunal feeding routes of enteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis.

Materials and Methods: A prospective, open label, hospital based, single centered study was conducted among 60 subjects attending General Surgery OPD, K.R. Hospital attached to Mysore Medical College And Research Institute, Mysore meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria over a period of 24 months from January 2016 to December 2017. All diagnosed cases of acute pancreatitis were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were a delay between onset of symptoms and presentation to hospital of over 4 weeks and a patient who is already on oral feeds at presentation with an acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis and patient in shock at presentation. Descriptive statistics, Student t-test, Chisquare test or Fischer Exact test were used to analyse the results.

Results: The mean age group of the study subjects was 36.34 (range 22-64) years. The gender distribution showed 30(100%) males in nasogastric group 28(93.33%) males and 2(6.67%) females in nasojejunal group. Duration of hospital stay was statistically lesser in nasojejunal group as compared to nasogastric group (p = 0.05). 9(30%) patients in the nasogastric group and 3(10%) patients in nasojejunal group required to stay in the ICU. 2(6.67%) patients in nasogastric group and 1(3.33%) in the nasojejunal group required surgical intervention in the form of necrosectomy.

Conclusion: The nasojejunal route of enteral nutrition appears to be simple safe well tolerated easy to establish and effective route of enteral nutrition in predicting severe acute pancreatitis.

Keywords: Enteral nutrition; Nasogastric feeding; Nasojejunal feeding; Acute pancreatitis.

Introduction

The incidence of acute pancreatitis has been increasing over recent years [1]. Mild acute pancreatitis may be self-limiting and not require any treatment, but up to 25% of patients suffer a severe attack and between 30 and 50% of these will die [2].

About 50% of deaths occur within the first week; these patients suffer a severe initial attack and develop an exaggerated systemic inflammatory response syndrome with the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death. Patients with a severe attack who survive beyond this period often going to develop extensive retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosis. Infection in necrotic tissue leads to sepsis, a persisting systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and accounts for patients who die late [3].

Over decades, the management of acute pancreatitis has been biased by unproven paradigms, which were generated by theories on the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. These paradigms have been increasingly questioned over the past two decades, resulting in treatment changes that were again based on personal experience and opinions of experts rather than convincing scientific evaluations. As a result, the overall treatment of acute pancreatitis still differs from center to center, and many physicians declare their management the standard of care [4].

Acute pancreatitis has been traditionally managed with initial fasting on purpose [5]. Nutritional support is an important aspect in the management of acute pancreatits. Upto the mid 1990's, total parenteral nutrition had been comprehensively recommended in the acute phase of pancreatitis [6]. Presently enteral nutrition has replaced parenteral nutrition [7]. Enteral nutrition is effective, maintains the intestinal mucosal integrity and reduces infectious and other complications, such as multiple organ deficiency syndromes [8, 9].

Nasojejunal is the established route of enteral nutrition. Jejunal feeding does not stimulate pancreatic exocrine secretion [10]. Nasogastric enteral nutrition has been recently considered in the management of acute pancreatitis, especially Severe Acute Pancreatitis. The Nasogastric route is simple, easy to establish and cost effective. However, this is potentially against to the requirement of pancreatic rest in the acute inflammation phase [11].

Studies indicate nasojejunal nutrition to be effective and safe [12, 13]. Before recommendation of nasojejunal enteral nutrition to clinical practice, further randomized controlled trials are needed [14].

The objective of our study was to compare nasogastric and nasojejunal feeding routes of enteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis.

Materials and Methods

A prospective, open label, hospital based, single centered study was conducted among 60 subjects attending General Surgery OPD, K.R. Hospital attached to Mysore Medical College And Research Institute, Mysore meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria over a period of 24 months from January 2016 to December 2017.

After inclusion, detailed evaluation of the patient was done in the first phase of the initial 24-48 hours after admission. Baseline investigations included biochemical studies, radiological examinations of chest & abdomen and ultrasonography. Computer tomography where indicated was performed. The Baseline nutritional parameters recorded included anthropometric and biochemical measurements such as Body Mass Index, Mid Upper Arm Circumference, Triceps Skin Fold Thickness and Serum Albumin Levels.

In the Second Phase, the patients were randomized to receive either Nasogastric or Nasojejunal tube feeding, based on computer generated random numbers. The feeding tubes were placed in the stomach and jejunum under fluoroscopic guidance through the nasal route. Endoscopic assistance was taken for placement of nasojejunal tubes in patients in whom it was not successfully placed under fluoroscopic guidance. The diets in the two groups were similar in caloric, lipid and protein content. A semi-elemental enteral formula was used, given as low infusion at a rate of 1-2ml/min through the enteral tube in both groups. Feeding was started with intake of 300Kcal/day to reach a target level of 2000kcal/day. Increase of the caloric intake from 300Kcal/day to 2000Kcal/day was over a 72 hour period and as tolerated. If a patient is unable to tolerate the prescribed rate of enteral feeding, the rate was reduced by 50% and gradually increased again when tolerated. Feeding through the tube was stopped at day 7; when the tube was removed and patients given oral feeding, depending on tolerance to oral feeding. Intravenous fluids such as crystalloids or colloids was added in both groups to fulfill the individual's needs of fluids and energy. Regular hospital diet was introduced initially starting with liquid followed by solid food.

Outcomes recorded were tolerance to feeding, feeding pain, hospital stay, changes in biochemical parameters, complications and their management and mortality. Local complications include pseudocyst, pancreatic necrosis, gastrointestinal bleed, and paralytic ileus. Systemic complications include acute respiratory distress syndrome, pleural effusion, sepsis, acute renal failure, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

Exclusion criteria were a delay between onset of symptoms and presentation to hospital of over 4 weeks; a patient who is already on oral feeds at presentation; patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis and patient in shock at presentation.

Descriptive statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study. Significance is assessed at 5% level of significance. Student-t-test (two tailed, independent) has been used to find the significance of study parameters on continuous scale between two groups. On metric parameters Chi-square or Fisher Exact test has been used to find the significance of study parameters on categorical scale between two or more groups.

Results

During the 24 months study period, 30 patients of acute pancreatitis were fed by nasogastric route and 30 patients had nasojejunal feeding. The mean age group of the study subjects was 36.34 (range 22-64) years in nasogastric group and 38.73 (range 24-68) years in nasojejunal group. The gender distribution showed 30(100%) males in nasogastric group; 28(93.33%) males and 2(6.67%) females in nasojejunal group. The etiology of pancreatitis include 21(70%) alchohol, 6(20%) biliary and 3(10%) others in nasogastric and 25(83.33%) alchohol, 4(13.33%) biliary and 1(3.33%) others in nasojejunal group. The Ranson score at presentation and at 48 hours after admission, APACHE score, CTSI and presence or absence of organ failure were used to assess the severity of acute pancreatitis. The severity was similar in both the nasogastric and nasojejunal groups (Table 1-2, Graph 1(i,ii)-4). The baseline Body mass index (BMI), Mid arm circumference (MAC) and triceps skin fold thickness(SFT) were similar in both nasogastric and nasojejunal groups. The total protein (TP) and serum albumin (Alb) as measured by biochemical tests were also similar in both groups.

The Midarm circumference(MAC) and triceps skin fold thickness(SFT) and total protein(TP) and serum albumin(Alb) were measured in all patients at the end of one week, after receiving enteral nutrition. All parameters had decreased from the baseline in the nasogastric group as compared to nasojejunal group (Table 3).

Length of hospital stay ranged from 5 days to 24 days (Mean-12.6 days). Nasogastric group ranged from 5 to 24 days (Mean-14.8 days). Nasojejunal group ranged from 5 to 16 days (Mean-9.4 days). Duration of hospital stay was statistically lesser in nasojejunal group (p-0.05) as compared to nasogastric group.

9(30%) patients in the nasogastric group and 3(10%) patients in nasojejunal group required to stay in the ICU. 2(6.67%) patients in nasogastric group and 1(3.33%) in the nasojejunal group required surgical intervention in the form of necrosectomy. Total Mortality was 2(6.67%) patients in nasogastric group and no patients died in nasojejunal group (Table 4, Graph 5).

On comparing the tolerance and side effects pain or discomfort and diarrhoea during the first 48 hours of initiating feeds were commonly reported. The incidence of diarrhoea was 14(23.33%) and 5(8.33%) in nasogastric and nasojejunal groups respectively (p-0.036). However pain or discomfort was reported by 22(36.67%) of patients in nasogastric group as compared to 7(11.67%) in nasojejunal group. Only 1(3.33%) patient in nasogastric group had refeeding pain requiring discontinuation of enteral feeding.

Discussion

Bowel rest, Feeding and Nutritional support form an important aspect in the management of acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis has been traditionally managed with initial fasting on purpose [5]. Until the mid 1990's, total parenteral nutrition had been recommended in the acute phase of pancreatitis to fulfill the nutritional requirements of the individual. Subsquently enteral nutrition was tried and presently enteral nutrition has replaced parenteral nutrition [4, 7, 11]. Enteral nutrition is effective, maintains the intestinal mucosal integrity and reduces infectious and other complications, such as multiple organ deficiency syndrome (MODS) [15, 16].

In acute pancreatitis, the nasojejunal route has been employed to deliver nutrients beyond the ligament of Treitz thereby giving the pancreas "rest". Delivery of nutrients proximal to the duodenojejunal flexure causes release of CCK and exaceberation of the inflammatory process [17]. Out of 60 study subjects, 30 subjects were nasogastric feeding group while 30 subjects were in nasojejunal group. The mean age group of the study subjects was 36.34 (range 22-64) years in nasogastric group and 38.73 (range 24-68) years in nasojejunal group. The mean age is lesser compared to the previous studies [18]. Most patients in this study were male with only two females, both in nasojejunal group compared to study done by Kumar et al. [19], showed all males in nasojejunal and two females in nasogastric group. The etiology was alcohol in about 76.67% and biliary in 16.67%, which is similar to study done by Eatock et al. [20], and Kumar et al [19].

Severe acute pancreatitis was defined in the present study; in accordance with the Atlanta classification and the Ranson score at admission and at 48hours, APACHE-2 score at admission, CT severity index and presence or absence of Organ Failure were used to assess severity which were similar in these characteristics in both nasogastric and nasojejunal groups.

There was no significant difference in the nutritional parameters in the two groups at admission. But there was a decline in the nutritional parameters in nasogastric group, as shown by anthropometric measurements and biochemical levels at the end of the first week. However the study done by Petrov et al. [18], showed no statistically significant difference in both groups.

On comparison of outcomes between the nasogastric and nasojejunal groups; nasojejunal feeding group had lesser length of hospital stay, need for ventilator support, and less chances of multiple organ failure or infected necrosis as compared to nasogastric group (p 0.05). The ICU stay and formation of acute fluid collections were more in nasogastric group.

Previous studies reported overall length of stay in nasogastrically fed patients ranging from 7 to 82 days (Mean 9-24days). This was comparable to the patients receiving nasojejunal feeds. In the present study the mean length of stay was 14.8days in the nasogastric group. However most studies reported a higher percentage of patients requiring ventilator support. Multiple organ failure in the present study was 9(15%) subjects which was similar to that of Kumar, et al of 18.8% [19].

2(6.67%) patients in nasogastric group and 1(3.33%) in the nasojejunal group required surgical intervention in the form of necrosectomy. The percentage of patients undergoing surgery was double in the nasogastric group. The need for surgery in the nasogastric group in the present study was similar to reports of Kumar et al. [19], and Eckerwall, et al [21]. Total Mortality was 2 patients in the nasogastric group and none in nasojejunal group. Overall Mortality reported was lesser than that of study done by Petrov et al [18].

Regarding side effects and tolerance to feeds, both nasogastric and nasojejunal groups tolerated feeds. On comparing the tolerance and side effects; pain or discomfort and diarrhoea during the first 48 hours of initiating feeds were commonly reported. The incidence of diarrhea was 14(23.33%) and 5(8.33%) in the nasogastric and nasojejunal groups respectively (p 0.036). Diarrhea was reported in 14 patients in the nasogastric group (23.33%) which was higher compared with other studies but similar to that reported by Kumar et al (25%) [19]. However pain or discomfort was reported in 22(36.67%) patients in nasogastric group as compared to 7(11.67%) subjects in nasojejunal group (0.024). Only 1(3.33%) patient in nasogastric group had refeeding pain requiring discontinuation of enteral feeding. However; the study done by Eatock et al. [20], 2005 and Kumar et al. [19], 2006 showed one subject in nasojejunal group with refeeding pain [19, 20]. Vomiting, distension, high ryles tube aspirate and tube removal were not a significant problem in the present study.

Nasojejunal group appeared to tolerate feeds better as compared to the nasogatric group. The target diet was reached within 3 days in the nasojejunal group in about 50% of the patients. Overall in about 20 % of patients in either group the feed had to be stopped due to intolerance. However, there was no statistically significant difference between both groups in previous studies [18, 22].

Conclusion

The nasojejunal route of enteral nutrition appears to be simple, safe, well tolerated, easy to establish and effective route of enteral nutrition in predicting severe acute pancreatitis. However; there were few limitations in our study which include; small sample size, open label, hospital based and single center study. Further studies evaluating this, overcoming the above limitations is highly desired.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Informed consents were taken from all participants, and the study protocol was approved by Institutional ethical committee approval board.

Conflict of interest

The authors confirm that there is no conflict of interest regarding this manuscript.

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