Strategies of nutritional support for patients with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Objective To summarize the strategies of nutritional support for patients with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP). Methods The clinical data of six HLAP patients who were treated in our department from January 1998 to December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Results The disease conditions of all patients were improved after fasting and early nutritional support and lipid-lowering treatment. Three cases with severe HLAP received enteral nutrition via a nasojejunal tube. Another three patients with milder HLAP obtained low-fat diet and orally administered lipid-lowering drugs. The plasma triglyceride levels decreased from (25.30 ± 20. 48 ) mmol/L to (5.41 ±4.55) mmol/L. No relapse was noted during follow-up (range: 3 -24 months). Conclusions The approaches of nutritional support for HLAP patients should be customized based on the specific disease conditions,and the enteral nutrition and lipid-lowering drugs should be reasonably and carefully designed and applied. For severe HLAP, nasojejunal tube should be maintained in the early stage to ensure the application of enteral nutrition and lipid-lowering drugs, protect the integrity of gut mucosal barrier, and decrease the fluctuation of blood glucose. Key words: Hyperlipidemia; Acute pancreatitis; Nutritional support