Early Oral Nutrition in Mild Acute Pediatric Pancreatitis

This is a prospective trial for children with the diagnosis of mild acute pancreatitis
admitted to the hospital for continued management. Patients will be enrolled in the study
within 24 hours of admission/diagnosis and will be allowed an oral diet once enrolled.
Demographic, laboratory and imaging data done as standard of care will be collected and
additional blood work will be sent as part of the study. Patients will be followed
prospectively with regards to tolerance to oral nutrition, pain, length of stay and
complications. The hypothesis is that patients that are able to tolerate early oral
nutrition will have shorter length of stays and will be similar in terms of pain score
ratings, readmission rates, complications and the need for invasive supplemental nutrition.
Also patients that are able to tolerate early oral nutrition will have less significant
elevation of biochemical markers of pancreatitis severity when compared to patients that do
not tolerate early oral nutrition and historical controls.