A Shift Toward Early Oral Feeding in Acute Pancreatitis

Objectives: The 2018 American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guidelines strongly recommended early oral feeding as tolerated in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). We compare early oral feeding rates in AP patients hospitalized in the periods before (2013-2016, Period A) and after (2019-2020, Period B) publication of the AGA guidelines, hypothesizing increased adherence in Period B. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of AP patients presenting to the emergency department during each period. Early oral feeding was defined as diet initiation within the first 48 hours of presentation. Results: The cohort included 276 AP cases in period A and 104 in period B. A higher percentage of patients were offered early oral feeding during period B as compared to period A (70.2% vs. 43.5%). Similarly, more patients in period B were started on solid diet as compared to period A (34.6% vs. 20.3%). On multivariable regression analysis, the independent predictors of delayed oral feeding included early opioid analgesics use (OR 0.37), presence of pancreatic necrosis (OR 0.14), and organ failure (OR 0.33). Conclusions: More AP patients were initiated on early oral feeding in the period following the publication of the AGA guidelines. Opioid analgesics use, pancreatic necrosis, and organ failure were associated with delayed oral feeding.