[Initial studies on the intraoperative use of spinally administered somatostatin]

7 cases are reported demonstrating that intrathecal or epidural administration of somatostatin intraoperatively reduced the requirement for other anaesthetics. Somatostatin acts as a potent analgesic, which does not impair circulatory parameters and which possesses no centrally depressing effect. Spinal administration of somatostatin could therefore gain importance in high-risk category patients with normal metabolism.