Somatostatin for the prevention of complications following pancreatoduodenectomy

Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) may be followed by serious complications chiefly associated with exocrine pancreatic secretion. Somatostatin and its analog ues are able to inhibit pancreatic secretion and thus have been advocated f or the prevention of complications following pancreatic surgery. In four pu blished multicentric randomized trials, octreotide administration was assoc iated with a decrease in overall complication rate. However and surprisingl y, the benefit is less clear when focusing on complications associated with pancreatic secretion as in pancreatic fistula or in high-risk patients (PD and nonfibrotic pancreas), The efficiency of other somatostatin analogues has not yet been assessed in randomized trials, In conclusion, further stud ies would be useful before routine prophylactic administration of somatosta tin analogues can be recommended. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.