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Octreotide and gastrointestinal fistulae
N A Scott1, S Finnegan, M H Irving
1University Department of Surgery, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK.
Digestion
|January 1, 1990
Summary
This study investigated octreotide for gastrointestinal fistulae. While spontaneous closure occurred in some patients, octreotide
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Endocrinology
Background:
- Gastrointestinal fistulae present a significant clinical challenge.
- Assessing the efficacy of treatments influencing spontaneous closure is difficult.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of somatostatin analogues, specifically octreotide, in managing gastrointestinal fistulae.
- To assess the impact of octreotide on the spontaneous closure rate of fistulae.
Main Methods:
- A randomized trial involving 16 patients with gastric, small bowel, and pancreatic fistulae.
- Patients received either octreotide injections (100 micrograms t.i.d.) or placebo for 12 days.
Main Results:
- Spontaneous fistula closure was observed in 7 out of 16 patients.
- The mean time to spontaneous closure was 37 days after trial entry.
Conclusions:
- Octreotide's precise role in accelerating fistula closure requires further investigation.
- A larger, ongoing study with extended octreotide treatment (21 days) aims to provide more definitive data.