Managing Variceal Bleeding with Somatostatin
Author Information
Author(s): S.A. Jenkins, R. Shields, N. Jaser, S. Ellenbogen, E. Naylor, J.N. Baxter
Primary Institution: University Department of Surgery, Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Hypothesis
Is somatostatin effective in controlling persistent or recurrent variceal bleeding after injection sclerotherapy?
Conclusion
Somatostatin infusion is an effective treatment for controlling variceal bleeding after failed injection sclerotherapy.
Supporting Evidence
- Somatostatin controlled bleeding in 15 of the 16 patients.
- One patient rebled after 72 hours of treatment.
- Bleeding was not controlled in one patient with severe liver dysfunction.
Takeaway
Doctors used a medicine called somatostatin to help stop bleeding in patients with swollen veins in their throat, and it worked for most of them.
Methodology
Patients with persistent or recurrent variceal bleeding were treated with an intravenous infusion of somatostatin.
Limitations
The study was uncontrolled and had a small sample size.
Participant Demographics
16 patients (11 males, 5 females) with a median age of 56.5 years.
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