Influence of somatostatin in the evolution of acute pancreatitis. A prospective randomized study.

A prospective, controlled, and randomized clinical study was carried out with the purpose of evaluating the influence of somatostatin in the evolution of acute pancreatitis. One hundred patients were randomly divided into two groups, a control group (n = 50 patients) and a somatostatin group (n = 50 patients to whom a dosage of 250 micrograms/h was administered for 48 h following a bolus of 250 micrograms at the beginning of therapy). The two groups were homogeneous in age, sex, etiology, and severity of clinical picture (on admission). The following parameters were compared in the two groups: 1. Evolution of the Computerized Axial Tomography (CT) findings on admission and after 48 h; 2. Length of hospital stay; 3. Need for surgery; and 4. Mortality. The results from the CT scans showed a significant statistical difference in favor of somatostatin regarding the evolution of pancreatic lesions and length of stay in the hospital. Another study using a larger sample would be required in order to evaluate the rest of the parameters.