Somatostatin treatment of gastrointestinal fistulae.

Output from gastrointestinal fistulae to the skin was measured in five patients during total parenteral nutrition and restricted oral intake. Supplemental infusion of somatostatin during six days caused a significant reduction in discharge in all patients compared to the pretreatment level, but none of the fistulae closed as a result of the treatment. Somatostatin may be considered an adjuvant drug to parenteral nutrition and restricted oral intake in the conservative treatment of external fistulae from the gastrointestinal tract.