ABSTRACT
Inflammation and fibrosis of the pancreas can lead to disruptions of its exocrine and endocrine functions that can lead to nutritional complications. Nutrition has a critical role in healing and is especially important in acute and chronic pancreatitis given its central function in the digestive process. The type and route of nutritional support differs depending on duration and severity of pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis should be admitted to the intensive care unit for management. Mortality is based on the presence of persistent organ failure and/or infected necrosis. The metabolic demands in patients with acute pancreatitis increase due to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS); however, the body is unable to absorb nutrients to meet this demand. Patients suffering from moderate/severe pancreatitis will need to have nutritional support as they will have a delay in resuming oral intake due to gastrointestinal inflammation and/or pancreatic/peripancreatic fluid.
