Objective:To systematically review the efficacy and safety of early oral refeeding(EORF)and conventional oral refeeding(CORF)for acute pancreatitis. Methods:Pub Med

EMBASE

Cochrane central Register of Controlled trials(CENTRAL

the Cochrane Library)

CBM

Wan Fang database

VIP and CNKI were searched from their inception to July

2015 for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)

comparing EORF and CORF for acute pancreatitis. The data were extracted and the methodology quality was assessed. Metaanalysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s Rev Man 5.3 software. Results:Five RCTs involving a total of 561 patients were included

277 in the experimental group and 284 in the control group. EORF was associated with shorter length of hospital stays than CORF(SMD=-0.56

95%CI=-0.90 to-0.22

P=0.001). There was no significant difference in the rate of abdominal pain relapse(P=0.300)

abdominal distention(P=0.180)

interrupted oral refeeding(P=0.620)

high serum amylase(P=0.620). But the rate of high serum lipase(P=0.040)is higher in EORF group than in CORF group. Conclusion:Compared with CORF

EORF is associated with shorter length of hospital stays. There was no significant difference in the rate of abdominal complications. However

due to the limited quality of the included studies

more studies with large sample size are still needed to verity the above conclusion.