Objective:To study the effects of combination of rhubarb and early enteral nutrition on severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).Methods:A total of 73 patients with SAP were randomly divided into one of the three groups: 21 patients treated with total parenteral nutrition(TPN),27 patients treated with early enteral nutrition(EEN),and 25 patients treated with combination of rhubarb and early enteral nutrition(REN).The hospitalization cost,length of stay,mortality,recovery time of intestinal function and score of APACHE Ⅱ were observed.The plasma procalcitonin(PCT),the levels of C-reactive protein(CRP)and prealbumin were detected.Results: In REN group,there was no death.There was 1 patient died in EEN group and 2 patients in TPN group.The recovery time of intestinal function in REN group was(2.49?0.59) days,the length of stay was(25.13?4.35) days,and the hospitalization cost was(56.9?7.2) thousand yuan.They were obviously shorter than those in the other groups(TPN group,P