title: Short report: octreotide in the treatment of external pancreatic fistulas.
abstract: The efficacy of the long-lasting somatostatin analogue, octreotide, in the treatment of high-output pancreatic fistulas was investigated in this prospective, open study. Sixteen patients with post-operative pancreatic fistulas were treated with subcutaneous injections of octreotide 0.1 mg b.d. The output of the fistulas before the somatostatin therapy ranged between 190 and 570 ml/day. The therapy was begun on average 17 days following the appearance of the fistula (range 4 to 35 days). The decrease in volume one day after initiation of therapy ranged from 26% to 69%. By the third day of treatment the fistula volume decreased to 0-45% of the initial output. The treatment resulted in the closure of 14 of the 16 fistulas; the time to closure ranging from 3 to 15 days. The results suggest that octreotide is a useful adjuvant agent in the treatment of an external pancreatic fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Medical School, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tulassay
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flautner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vadász
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fehérvári
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015282:Octreotide