Expanding uses of octreotide.

This chapter reviews the therapeutic use of octreotide in a variety of pancreatic disorders, including acute pancreatitis, in the prevention of postoperative and post-ERCP pancreatitis, in the control of postoperative pancreatic fistulae, and in chronic pancreatitis for the control of pain and of pseudocysts and ascites. The review also discusses the use of octreotide in intestinal disorders of motility, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal fistulae and refractory diarrhoea, including the diarrhoeas of AIDS, diabetes, short gut, chemotherapy, ileostomy and gastric surgery. The use of octreotide in neuroendocrine tumours, both for therapy and diagnostic imaging, is reviewed briefly. The paucity of adequately controlled studies in many of these situations is indicated and the potential usefulness of octreotide estimated.