[Octreotide in the treatment of acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by ruptured esophageal varices].
OBJECTIVE
To asses the value of octreotide in the control of acute bleeding esophageal varices in a retrospective study.


METHODS
Fourty two patients admitted for esophageal variceal bleeding confirmed at endoscopy were recruited. An initial 50 micrograms bolus of octreotide followed by a two day continuous infusion of 25 micrograms/h were evaluated for the control of bleeding.


RESULTS
Twenty nine patients were endoscopic stigmata of recent bleeding and thirteen were active bleeding at emergency endoscopy. Octreotide was found to be effective regarding hemostasis at 48 hours and on day 7 after the index bleeding episode. 30-day mortality was 11.9%. Echec of octreotide was significantly associated with severity of cirrhosis (p<0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that octreotide is effective in the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding and it is a valuable adjuvant treatment in association with endoscopic management.
Arfaoui
Dalenda
D
Service d'hépatogastroentérologie CHU Sahloul Sousse, Tunisie.
Elloumi
Héla
H
Ajmi
Salem
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D015282:Octreotide