Small bowel fistulas treated with somatostatin: preliminary results

Small bowel cutaneous fistula appearing after laparotomy was treated with the tetradecapeptide somatostatin in six patients to reduce the volume and enzyme content of the intestinal secretion. Continuous intravenous infusion of somatostatin diminished output from the fistula in all cases. Spontaneous fistula closure occurred after 11 to 33 days of treatment in four patients. There were no complications such as sepsis, peritonitis, or wound or skin problems from the contact with intestinal secretion. The hospital stay ranged from 19 to 50 days and bowel function was restored to normal. These preliminary results indicated that somatostatin can promote healing of small bowel fistula by inhibiting intestinal secretions.