Prophylactic administration of somatostatin or gabexate does not prevent pancreatitis after ERCP: an updated meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
The prophylactic use of somatostatin or gabexate in patients undergoing ERCP is still controversial.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to update the meta-analysis on somatostatin (SS, 16 studies) or gabexate mesylate (GM, 9 studies) prophylaxis of post-ERCP pancreatitis and to run sensitivity analyses by subgrouping trials according to schedules of drug administration.


METHODS
Post-ERCP acute pancreatitis, hyperamylasemia, and pain.


RESULTS
Heterogeneity was present among selected studies, which appeared eliminated when only 9 high-quality trials on SS and 5 randomized studies on GM were considered. After data were pooled from SS trials, pancreatitis occurred in 7.3% of controls versus 5.3% of treated patients, a nonsignificant effect (odds ratio [OR] = 0.73; 95% CI 0.54-1.006). The funnel plot showed asymmetry with a negative slope (P = .05). The meta-analysis produced negative results for either short- (<6 hours) or long-term (> or =12 hours) SS infusion, whereas a bolus injection proved effective (OR = 0.271; 95% CI 0.138-0.536), with a pooled absolute risk reduction of 8.2% (95% CI 4.4-12.0%). Postprocedural hyperamylasemia, but not pain, was significantly reduced (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.57-0.81). In controls and patients treated with GM, pancreatitis developed in 5.7% versus 4.8%, hyperamylasemia in 40.6% versus 36.9%, and pain in 1.7% versus 8.9%. All pooled ORs were nonsignificant: P = .34, .17, and .19, respectively. The meta-analysis produced no significant effect for either short-term (<6 hours) or long-term (>12 hours) GM administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Short- or long-term infusion of SS or GM proved ineffective in reducing post-ERCP pancreatitis and pain. The beneficial effect of SS on postprocedural hyperamylasemia seems of marginal significance. When given as a bolus injection, SS maintains its promise in this field, but additional data are needed.
Andriulli
Angelo
A
Division of Gastroenterology, Casa Sollievo Sofferenza and De Bellis Hospitals, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
Leandro
Gioacchino
G
Federici
Telemaco
T
Ippolito
Antonio
A
Forlano
Rosario
R
Iacobellis
Angelo
A
Annese
Vito
V
D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016670:Gabexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D034321:Hyperamylasemia; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006728:Hormones; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D016670:Gabexate; D013004:Somatostatin