Intravenous infusion of octreotide for prevention of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Objective To assess the effect of intravenous infusion of octreotide in prevention of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods The clinical data of 74 cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy performed from January 1996 to July 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. These included 36 cases in control group in which octreotide was not adminstered,and 38 cases in octreotide group in which octreotide was administered by intravenous infusion of 0.5μg/( kg·h) for 12 hours per day from the operative day to postoperative day 7. The study parameters included clinical manifestation,drainage from peritioned cavity and the amount of drainage of pancreatic fluid. Results The drainage of pancreatic fluid at postoperative day 1,3,5 the in octreotide group was significantly less than those in the control group,the average hospital stay and the incidence of pancreatic fistula were significantly lower than those in the control group,and the drainage of pancreatic fluid was significantly increased after the withdrawal of octreotide in the octreotide group. Conclusions Intravenous infusion of octreotide can significantly lower the incidence of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.