[Utility of bolus somatostatin administration in preventing pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a controlled, non-randomized study].
BACKGROUND
Somatostatin is one of the most extensively evaluated drugs in the prophylaxis of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but its utility remains controversial.


METHODS
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of somatostatin as prophylaxis of ERCP-induced acute pancreatitis. A group of consecutive patients that underwent ERCP in our endoscopy unit was prospectively studied for 8 months. Patients in this group were administered an endovenous bolus of 250 micrograms of somatostatin immediately before introducing the catheter in the papilla of Vater (somatostatin group). This group was compared with another group composed of consecutive patients who had undergone ERCP in the 8 previous months, without somatostatin administration (placebo group). Both groups contained the same number of patients. The following variables were recorded; sex, age, contrast injection in the duct of Wirsung, endoscopist, therapeutic maneuvers, and the development of post-ERCP pancreatitis.


RESULTS
During the 16 months of patient inclusion, we performed 320 ERCP in our unit, of which 248 were included in the study: 142 in the somatostatin group and 142 in the placebo group. Of these patients, 152 (53.5%) were men and 132 (46.5%) were women. The mean age was 70.05 +/- 13.83 years (range: 27-93 years). Acute pancreatitis occurred in 10 patients in the somatostatin group and in 5 in the placebo group; this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the remaining variables studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Somatostatin does not seem to be useful in preventing post-ERCP acute pancreatitis.
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. xoanxose@hotmail.com
J J
JJ
Vila
F J
FJ
Jiménez
C
C
Prieto
E
E
Borobio
J F
JF
Juanmartiñena
F
F
Borda
D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D006728:Hormones; D013004:Somatostatin