THE INFLUENCE OF SOMATOSTATIN ON POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOME AFTER ELECTIVEPANCREATIC SURGERY

A series of 34 patients with pancreatic resections was evaluated with respect to the occurrence of local and general complications. Two grou ps were compared, depending on whether or not treatment with somatosta tin was instituted. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were less fr equent 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 a fter resections performed for chronic pancreatitis than for pancreatic cancer in the non somatostatin-treated group. It is concluded that so matostatin treatment may be beneficial in preventing complications aft er elective pancreatic surgery.