The role of somatostatin in 67 consecutive pancreatectomies: a randomized clinical trial

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic findings

	Total n = 67	With treatment n = 35	Without treatment n = 32
Age	61.1 (37–84)	62.7 (37–84)	61.3 (41–83)
Sex (M/F)	39/28	22/13	17/15

Table 2 Surgical data

	Total n = 67	With treatment n = 35	Without treatment n = 32	Pvalue
Longmire–Traverso	46	23	23	0.585
Kausch–Whipple	13	8	5	0.45
Distal pancreatectomy + spleenectomy	7	4	3	0.783
Distal pancreatectomy	1	0	1	0.31

Table 3 Histopathological diagnosis

	Total n = 67	With treatment n = 35	Without treatment n = 32
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma	53	29	24
Pancreatitis	9	5	4
Neuroendocrine tumor	1	0	1
Metastatic adenocarcinoma	1	0	1
Lymphoma	1	0	1
Acinar cell	1	1	0
Cystadenoma	1	0	1

Table 4 Definition of complications

Pancreatic fistula	Peritoneal amylase levels (drain) > 3× plasma amylase from day 3 onwards (International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula Definition)
Intra-abdominal collection	Sterile liquid collection of at least 5 × 5 cm diagnosed on abdominal CT or ultrasonography
Intra-abdominal abscess	Infected liquid collection confirmed by positive culture and diagnosed on abdominal CT or ultrasonography
Sepsis	4 of the 5 following criteria: i. positive hemoculture; ii. fever >38°C; iii. WBC > 12,000/mm^3 or <3000 mm^3; iv. thrombocytopenia; v. metabolic acidosis
Shock	Systolic pressure <90 mmHg or a 30 mmHg drop in systolic pressure, altered organ perfusion

Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography; WBC, white blood cell count.

Table 5 Postoperative complications

Total	With somatostatin	Without somatostatin
General
Pulmonary	1 (1.5%)	0
Urinary tract infection	1 (1.5%)	0
Sepsis	0	3 (4.5%)
Shock	1 (1.5%)	0
Multi-organ failure	1 (1.5%)	2 (3%)
Local
Fistula	1 (1.5%)	5 (7.5%)
Intra-abdominal abscess	1 (1.5%)	3 (4.5%)
Intra-abdominal fluid	0	1 (1.5%)
Delayed gastric emptying	1 (1.5%)	2 (3%)
Wound dehiscence	0	2 (3%)
Wound infection	0	1 (1.5%)

Figure 1 Control patient. Acinar cells with very dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (rer).

Abbreviation: N, nucleus × 8000.

Figure 2 Control patient. Acinar cells have very dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (rer) and granules (gr).

Figure 3 Exocrine acini of pancreas, with administration of somatostatin.

Abbreviations: N, nucleus; m, mitochondria; rer, rough endoplasmic reticulum; gr, granules × 10,000.

Figure 4 Exocrine acini of pancreas, with administration of somatostatin.

Abbreviation: N, nucleus × 5000.

Table 6 Morphometric results

Group	Mean number of granules	Total granular area, μm^2
Control	140 ± 7.16	70 ± 6.2
Somatostatin	101 ± 11.3	61 ± 5.7

Note: Data expressed as mean values.