title: [Efficacy of octreotide in the treatment of chyle fistulas associated with pancreatic disease].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A chyle fistula is an uncommon complication following abdominal and pancreatic surgery, particularly in the retroperitoneal compartment. It can also appear as a complication of a severe acute pancreatitis. Medical treatment is the initial approach, but resolution is often slow. Somatostatin or octreotide can help in accelerating the resolution of fistulae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients developing a chyle fistula (output > 100ml/24h, normal amylase levels and triglyceride concentrations above 110mg/dl) associated with pancreatic disorders were treated with oral intake restriction and parenteral nutrition, followed by subcutaneous octreotide 0.1mg/8h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four female patients from 55 to 80 years old, underwent pancreatic surgery or presented with an acute pancreatitis, were treated. Chyle fistulae ranging from 100 to 2,000ml/24h were treated with octreotide, being resolved within five to seven days. No recurrence has been found in a 2 to 4 years follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have found that chyle fistula medical treatment is often related to a slow resolution, somatostatin or octreotide administration dramatically reduces its duration. Other previously reported studies have also shown that the quick onset of such treatment can accelerate the whole process, leading to a shorter recovery and lower hospital costs.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, Tarrasa, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Fabián A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Zárate Moreno
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Oms Bernad
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mato Ruiz
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balaguer del Ojo
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sala Pedrós
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Campillo Alonso
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002913:Chyle; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D015282:Octreotide