Continuous intravenous octreotide treatment for acute experimental pancreatitis

Background: The efficacy of octreotide, the synthetic analogue of the hormo ne somatostatin, for the treatment of acute pancreatitis is controversial. Octreotide has been commonly administered in subcutaneous bolus injections; however, continuous intravenous infusion may be advantageous for acute con ditions. Methods: Acute experimental pancreatitis was induced in rats by in traparenchymal injections of 1 mi 10% sodium taurocholate, and octreotide ( 1 mu g/kg/h, dissolved in physiological solution, intravenously was started 4 h later and continuously infused for 48 h. Physiological solution infusi ons, in identical volumes, were used in the controls. The following paramet ers were examined: mortality; macroscopic and histological damage; hematocr it; plasma pH; acid-base balance; serum glucose; calcium, and amylase. Resu lts: Octreotide treatment had a striking effect on mortality: 8.3 versus 91 .6% in the treatment and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001), Octreoti de also ameliorated pancreatic edema and intestinal dilatation, and had sig nificant beneficial effects on histopathological damage and the biochemical alterations which are associated with acute pancreatitis. Conclusions: Con tinuous intravenous octreotide infusion is a potentially efficacious therap eutic method for acute pancreatitis.