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.