OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of perioperative parenteral nutrition support on the postoperative nutritional status and postoperative complications of pancreatic head cancer. Methods: 34 patients with pancreatic head cancer were selected to apply enteral and parenteral nutrition during the perioperative period (treatment group), and 48 patients with pancreatic head cancer who were given parenteral intravenous nutrition alone after surgical treatment during the same period (control group) were studied in a controlled manner. The experimental and control groups were further divided into 2 strata for stratified analysis according to the surgical modality, with pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) as the first stratum and palliative surgery such as biliary and gastrointestinal anastomosis, dissection, pancreatic biopsy, and jejunostomy as the second stratum. The number of cases in the second level in the experimental group was 13 and 21, respectively; the number of cases in the second level in the control group was 24 and 24, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed for the preoperative and postoperative weight changes, improvement of total protein and albumin, and postoperative complication rates. Results The improvement of total protein and albumin before and after surgery in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group (P=0.01, P<0.05); the incidence of postoperative complications in the treatment group was significantly lower (P=0.06); the incidence of postoperative complications, weight change before and after surgery and improvement of total protein in the treatment group with pancreaticoduodenectomy were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Perioperative application of enteral and parenteral nutrition for pancreatic head cancer has its significant advantages, and clinicians should pay more attention to perioperative enteral nutrition support treatment for pancreatic cancer.