Objective: To evaluate the use of octreotide together with the conservative handling in the treatment of patients with external gastrointestinal fistulae.
Material and methods: Clinical essay in postsurgical gastrointestinal fistulae carriers assisted during a 54-month period. They were randomly distributed in two groups: group A was treated with conventional handling and group B was additionally treated with octreotide.
Results: 44 women and 55 men with an average age of 50 +/- 19 years old were treated. The following table summarizes the result variables. [table: see text]
Conclusion: The use of octreotide is recommendable, for it was useful in diminishing both the closing time of the fistula and the time the nutritional support the patient requires. Mortality still continues to be very increased (because of sepsis), by which the phrase "primum non nocere" takes a relevant place since this pathology is greatly preventable.