Effect of perioperative somatostatin administration of sphincteroplasty-induced increase of amylase.

Twenty patients undergoing sphincteroplasty for cholelithiasis were randomly divided into two groups of 10. The former (T) were treated with a 4-h somatostatin intravenous drip (250 micrograms/h), started at the beginning of operation, while the latter (C) made up the control group. Serum and urine amylase, amylase creatinine clearance ratio, and liver function tests were assessed for 2 days before surgery, after the operation and for a period of 5 postoperative days. Homogeneity between the two series was verified in experimental conditions. Statistical differences occurred postoperatively in amylase creatinine clearance ratio, which proved higher in C group, and gamma-GT, which was higher in T group. Short-term somatostatin administration proved effective in reducing the postoperative amylase creatinine clearance ratio, although more evident results are reported after long-term administration. Cholestasis or any serious impairment in liver function did not occur, suggesting the suitability of somatostatin use even in patients with jaundice. Since a relationship between postoperative amylase levels and risk of pancreatitis has not yet been proved, the value of somatostatin in the prevention of postoperative pancreatitis after sphincteroplasty needs to be further verified.