title: Octreotide in relieving gastrointestinal symptoms due to bowel obstruction.
abstract: Gastrointestinal obstruction is a common problem in advanced malignant disease, but its management remains controversial. In those patients for whom surgery is not appropriate, medical intervention is the only remaining option. We present a series of 14 patients with intestinal obstruction who were managed with subcutaneous injections of octreotide, a somatostatin analogue which reduces the volume of gastrointestinal secretions. Good control of vomiting was achieved in 12 patients, and no major side effects were observed. Octreotide would appear to be a useful drug in this clinical situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Buccheri La Ferla Hospital, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mercadante
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spoldi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caraceni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maddaloni
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Simonetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010166:Palliative Care; D014839:Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015282:Octreotide