title: Somatostatin analogues for the treatment of enterocutaneous fistulas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enterocutaneous fistulas are abnormal connections between the skin and gastrointestinal tract that most commonly occur after surgery. Somatostatin analogues have been used in their treatment. The objective of the present study was to determine if somatostatin analogues shorten the time to closure of postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas compared to placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched Medline, EMBase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, as well as reference lists of textbooks and relevant articles for randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing somatostatin analogues to control in the treatment of postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas. We systematically assessed trials for eligibility and validity, and extracted data in duplicate. We pooled data across studies using a random effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our initial search yielded 720 studies, of which eight RCT ultimately met eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Somatostatin analogues significantly decreased the time to closure of fistulas compared to placebo {weighted mean difference (WMD)--6.37 days [95% confidence interval (CI) -8.33, -4.42]}. The duration of hospital stay was also significantly decreased with somatostatin analogue treatment [WMD--4.53 days (95% CI -8.29, -0.77)]. No difference in mortality was identified with somatostatin treatment [RR 0.87 (95% CI 0.49-1.55)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Somatostatin analogues appear to decrease the duration of enterocutaneous fistulas and duration of hospital stay, but no mortality benefit was identified. The quality of evidence for outcomes in this review ranged from low to moderate. Future large, blinded, RCT would be useful in improving the confidence in the treatment effects identified in this systematic review and meta-analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University of Western Ontario, 1963 Beaverbrook Ave, London, ON, N6H 5X4, Canada. scoughl3@uwo.ca.
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coughlin
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University of Western Ontario, 1963 Beaverbrook Ave, London, ON, N6H 5X4, Canada.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lurati
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faulhaber
mesh_terms: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C060347:lanreotide; D013004:Somatostatin; D015282:Octreotide