Octreotide in the prevention of intra-abdominal complications following elective pancreatic resection: a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Prophylactic administration of octreotide acetate decreases the rate of postoperative intra-abdominal complications (IACs) after elective pancreatic resection.


METHODS
Single-blind, controlled, randomized trial.


METHODS
Multicenter (N = 20) trial in France.


METHODS
Of 230 randomized patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy and pancreatic enteric anastomosis or distal pancreatectomy for either malignant or benign tumor or chronic pancreatitis, 122 were allotted intraoperatively to receive octreotide; 108 served as controls.


RESULTS
All 230 patients were analyzed. Both groups were comparable except that significantly more patients in the octreotide group had biological glue injected into the main pancreatic duct alone (P<.001) or reinforcing the pancreatic enteric anastomosis (68% [83/122] vs 39% [42/108]; P =.002). Fewer patients (P =.08) in the octreotide group sustained 1 or more IACs (22% vs 32%). In subgroup analysis, octreotide significantly reduced the rate of patients sustaining 1 or more IACs when the main pancreatic duct diameter was less than 3 mm (P<.02), when pancreatojejunostomy was performed (P<.02), or both (P<.02). No significant differences were found regarding IAC severity. Twenty-three patients (10%) died postoperatively, 16 (70% of deaths) of whom had 1 or more IACs. The only independent risk factor for IACs found on multivariate analysis was pancreatoduodenectomy compared with distal pancreatectomy (P<.01) (odds ratio, 3.54 [95% confidence interval, 1.44-8.65]).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that octreotide is not necessary for all patients undergoing pancreatic resection; it could be useful when the main pancreatic duct is less than 3 mm in diameter and when pancreatoduodenectomy is completed by pancreatojejunostomy.
Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Hôpital Rangueil, Toulouse, France.
Bertrand
B
Suc
Simon
S
Msika
Massimo
M
Piccinini
Gilles
G
Fourtanier
Jean-Marie
JM
Hay
Yves
Y
Flamant
Abe
A
Fingerhut
Pierre-Louis
PL
Fagniez
Jacques
J
Chipponi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D015282:Octreotide