PROPHYLACTIC SOMATOSTATIN AFTER CEPHALIC DUODENOPANCREATECTOMY

This study was aimed at assesing the value of prophylactic Somatostati n after cephalic duodenopancreatectomy. A randomized prospective study was undertaken using two groups of patients, one with prophylactic So matostatin (4.5 mg daily in continous perfusion for 7 days postoperati vely), known as group I, and group II, which did not receive Somatosta tin. During a five-year period, from April 1989 to April 1994, we perf ormed 35 duodenopancreatectomies, of which 21 belonged to group I and 14 to group II. We found a lower incidence of pancreatic anastomosis f istulae in group I (9.5% vs 35.7%; p<0.05). We did not find any correl ation between prophylaxis with Somatostatin and the appearance of othe r complications or postoperative mortality. The mean time of fistula c losure in group I was 5 days while that of group II was 19.2 days. In conclusion, the administration of prophilactic Somatostatin after ceph alic duodenopancreatectomy reduces the incidence and duration of pancr eatic fistula.