The Influence of Somatostatin on Postoperative Outcome after Elective Pancreatic Surgery

Abstract

A series of 34 patients with pancreatic resections was evaluated with respect to the occurrence of local and general complications. Two groups were compared, depending on whether or not treatment with somatostatin was instituted.

Postoperative morbidity and mortality were less frequent when somatostatin was given (resp. 50.0 and 5.5%) than when it was omitted (resp. 68.7 and 31.2%). Less complications were observed after resections performed for chronic pancreatitis than for pancreatic cancer in the non somatostatin-treated group.

It is concluded that somatostatin treatment may be beneficial in preventing complications after elective pancreatic surgery.

Key words:

• Pancreatic cancer
• chronic pancreatitis
• somatostatin
• pancreatic secretion
• pancreatectomy