title: [Octreotide administration and/or endoscopic treatment in cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding: a multicentric study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients is an emergency with a high risk of rebleeding and death. Endoscopic procedures such as sclerotherapy or banding, combined or not with drugs such as octreotide could be considered.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of octreotide in the control of acute variceal bleeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two patients were randomized into three groups: endoscopic therapy plus octreotide 50 microg/h bolus and continuous infusion for 5 days (n=36); octreotide (same dosage) (n=13) and endoscopic therapy only (banding and/or sclerotherapy) (n=43).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Haemostasis at 24 hours was achieved in 97% of patients with combined treatment, 69% of patients receiving octreotide, and 93% of patients with endoscopic therapy (p=0.2). Three patients with combined treatment, four patients receiving octreotide and eight patients with endoscopic therapy, rebled during the first five days (p=0.15). The mean of blood units transfused was similar in the three groups. No differences were observed in hospital days and side effects. At 42 days of follow up, eight patients with endoscopic therapy, one patients with combined therapy and 2 patients receiving octreotide, died (p=NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Octreotide is useful in the management of acute variceal bleeding. The absence of important side effects, renders it as a safe adjuvant treatment associated with endoscopic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Gastroenterología, Clínica Las Condes. GuillermoSilvap@entelchile.net
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quera
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fluxá
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanhueza
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Segovia
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brahm
authors.forename: Cristián
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Urzúa
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biagini
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015911:Sclerotherapy
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D015282:Octreotide
vernacular_title: Octreótido, tratamiento endoscópico o ambos en la hemorragia variceal activa en pacientes cirróticos: estudio multicéntrico.