Pasireotide is not effective in reducing the development of postoperative pancreatic fistula

In a single trial, perioperative pasireotide demonstrated reduction in postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) following pancreatectomy, yet recent studies question the efficacy of this drug.

All patients who underwent pancreatic resection between January 2014 and August 2017 at a single institution were prospectively followed. Starting in February 2016, pasireotide was administered to all pancreatectomies. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) patients were additionally risk-stratified using a validated clinical risk score. The primary endpoint was the development of clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF), and was compared between patients who received pasireotide and controls.

Of 116 patients, 87 patients (75%) underwent PD, and 43 patients (37.1%) received pasireotide. CR-POPF occurred in 28.4% patients. The use of pasireotide was not associated with reduced CR-POPF among the total cohort (25.6% vs. 30.1%, P = 0.599), distal pancreatectomy patients (P = 0.339), PD (P = 0.274), or PD patients with elevated risk scores (P = 0.073). Pasireotide did not decrease hospital length of stay, use of parenteral nutrition, delayed gastric emptying, surgical site wound infection, or readmission rate.

Use of pasireotide after pancreatic resection does not decrease CR-POPF, nor is it associated with reduced length of stay or postoperative complications. A multi-center randomized trial is warranted to study its true effect on outcomes after pancreatectomy.