Somatostatin in prophylaxis of acute postoperative pancreatitis after transduodenal papillostomy [La somatostatina nella profilassi della pancreatite acuta postoperatoria dopo papillostomia transduodenale]

The Authors report their own experience concerning the use of somatostatin in prophylaxis of acute postoperative pancreatitis (PAPO), in patients affected by common duct lithiasis and in whom papillostomy was at last performed. Two groups were studied: group B (49 patients) was treated with somatostatin prophylaxis, and compared with group A (45 patients) which was homogeneous to the former for age, sex and type of surgery. Serum amylase levels and other plasma examinations were considered and a strict control of symptoms and signs of sepsis, ileus and shock, were observed to outline promptly the arise of a PAPO. This complication was observed in 6 cases in group A and in 3 cases in group B. Five patients, group A, and three patients, group B required a surgical treatment: laparotomy and pancreatic drainage. Only two cases were treated conservatively (total parenteral nutrition). The Authors outline that, in treated patients, they observed a lower incidence of PAPO, a low severity of the clinical picture and less need of reoperations.