Experimental study of parenteral nutrition and of the exocrine function of the pancreas

The effect of parenteral nutrition on the pancreatic secretion was studied under experimental conditions. Experiments were carried out in 24 mongrel dogs. In all animals pancreatic fistulas were created for collection of pancreatic juice. Subsequently, in three groups (6 dogs in each) parenteral nutrition via a catheter enterostomy was applied in three different segments of their small bowels, while collecting the pancreatic juice. Group IV served as control where no parenteral nutriment was administered. The amount, pH, protein and enzyme levels of the pancreatic juice secreted during 4 hours were studied in all groups. The experiments revealed that parenteral nutrition at the initial segment of the jejunum enhanced pancreatic secretion, while this was not experienced in the other groups. The effect is assumed to be humoral, rather with a secretin-like stimulation. Based on the experimental results, the authors call attention to the fact that, during treatment of acute pancreatitis, if a feeding enterostomy is constructed for calorie intake, it should not be performed within the first metre of the jejunum.