Usage du lanréotide dans la prévention des fistules pancréatiques après duodéno-pancréatectomie céphalique. Étude préliminaire

The use of lanreotide to prevent pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy. A preliminary study.

Study aim: Dehiscence of pancreatic anastomosis is the main complication after pancreatoduodenectomy. The efficacy of somatostatin analogue to prevent complications after pancreatic resections is at present well-established by several randomized trials. The aim of this preliminary prospective study was to assess the role of lanreotide (a long acting somatostatin analogue) in this field.

Patients and method: Forty patients with pancreatic head tumour have been included in a prospective study. Criteria for pancreatic fistula were : high concentration of amylase in the drainage fluid (> 3 times that in the serum), or intra-abdominal fluid collection adjacent to the pancreatic anastomosis, or reoperation (or postmortem verification) showing an anastomotic dehiscence. The patients received 12 h before the operation 30 mg of lanreotide intramuscularly.

Results: Of the 40 patients included prospectively, 34 underwent a pancreatic resection. Parenchyma of pancreatic remnant was crumbly in 28 cases. Six patients experienced a pancreatic fistula (17.6%) which healed in all cases.

Conclusion: This preliminary study shows clearly the feasibility of a long acting somatostatin analogue (lanreotide) to prevent pancreatic fistula after pancreatectomy. This agent appears simple to use and its efficacy needs obviously to be assessed by randomized trials.