Objective To evaluate the health economic value c linical pathway (CP) of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of mild ac ute pancreatitis (MAP). Methods Ninty one patients with MAP were enr olled prospectively in TCM clinical pathway group from June 2012 to February 2013, while the data of 80 MAP patients who were treated without TCM clinical pathway from June 2011 to May 2012, were analyzed retrospectively as control group. The health economic evaluation data u sed for the two groups comparison included: average length of stay, hospitalizat ion expenses (total hospitalization expenses, total treatment cost, TCM treatmen t cost, herbal fees, medicine fees, and nursing care cost), as well as the usage of antibiotics/somatostatin, the release time of abdominal pain, the time of re -feeding, and patient satisfaction. Results There were no sign ificant statistical differences in demographics, etiology, Ranson and Balthazar CT scores between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with non-CP group, th e usage of antibiotics and somatostatin, the release time of abdominal pain, the time of re-feeding and patient satisfaction were all improved significantly in CP group (P<0.05). The average length of stay in CP group was shorter than that of non-CP group (P<0.05). Total hospitalization expenses 〔￥ (11 089.89 ±4 318.29) vs. ￥ （8 960.34±4 328.91)〕, medicine fees 〔￥ (6 563.80±2 743.87) vs. ￥ （3 988.28±2 128.10)〕 and nursing care cost 〔￥ (110.51±37.24) vs. ￥ (93 .32±35.20)〕 were all reduced in CP group, while TCM treatment cost 〔￥ (609.59±6 24.42) vs. (968.29±769.68)〕 and herbal fees 〔￥ (162.72±135.13) vs. ￥(303.49±149.9 0)〕 were increased (P<0.05). Th ere was no significant statistical difference in total treatment cost between th e two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion TCM clinical pathway of M AP can not only ensure the therapeutic effects, but also shorten the average len gth of stay, reduce medical cost and increase patient satisfaction.
