title: Octreotide in the treatment of diarrhoea induced by coeliac plexus block.
abstract: Prolonged and severe diarrhoea after alcohol celiac plexus block is a rare, but life-threatening, complication if not recognized. This type of diarrhoea may be considered an autonomic neuropathy due to sympathetic denervation. A 65-year-old pancreatic cancer patient developed serious diarrhoea after celiac plexus block which was unresponsive to traditional treatment such as loperamide, dyphenoxylate and opioids. Subcutaneous octreotide, 0.1 mg twice a day, achieved a complete resolution of the symptom. This drug was maintained at the same dosage and was well tolerated for 4 months until death. Octreotide, an analogue of somatostatin, reduces diarrhoea by suppression of intestinal motility and secretion and offers a useful option in the treatment of this complication of celiac plexus block.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive care, Buccheri La Ferla Hospital, Palermo Italy Department of Pain Relief and Palliative Care, SAMOT, Palermo Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mercadante
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block; D002447:Celiac Plexus / Q000187:drug effects*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000431:Ethanol; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D015282:Octreotide