title: Can somatostatin prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis? Results of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute pancreatitis is the most common complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), occurring in 1-10% of patients. Several substances have been used, with negative results, in an attempt to prevent this complication.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a double-blind randomized trial in 372 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic ERCP to evaluate the role of somatostatin in preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis. The first group received continuous somatostatin infusion for 12 h starting 30 min before ERCP, the second group received a bolus intravenous injection of somatostatin at the time of cannulation of the papilla, and the third group received a placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients in each of the somatostatin groups (1.7%) and 12 patients in the placebo group (9.8%) developed pancreatitis (P<0.05). Serum amylase levels 5 and 24 h after the procedure were lower in both groups that received somatostatin than in the placebo group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Somatostatin is useful in preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis. Further studies must be designed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of the drug and to determine the ideal administration route and dosage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, 251 Hellenic Air Force and Veterans General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arvanitidis
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannopoulos
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pantes
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agaritsi
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Margantinis
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsiakos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sakorafas
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kostopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D013004:Somatostatin