Somatostatin and its analogue (SMS 201-995, octreotide) have proven to effectively inhibit various gastrointestinal functions including exocrine and neuroendocrine secretion, motility and splanchnic blood flow. The long half-life and the ability to administer the analogue subcutaneously has liberalized its use in different intestinal and extraintestinal disorders. In particular, the profound inhibitory effects on exocrine pancreatic function have prompted the use of SMS in several pancreatic disorders. Despite the lack of controlled studies, somatostatin has been used in different pancreatic disorders, fistulas, pseudocysts and ascites. The preliminary evidence supports a definite role of this analogue as adjunctive and primary therapeutic agents.
Pancreatic necrosis as a consequence of acute pancreatitis usually implies a poor prognosis. Infection is the most common complication affecting mortality and appears to be increasing. While bacterial infections, particularly with coliforms, account for the majority of cases of infected necrosis, fungal infections are being more frequently documented. This may be due to increased recognition through improved laboratory techniques, more aggressive diagnosis by percutaneous aspiration, or the more widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics or parenteral nutrition. While the majority of documented fungal pancreatic infections have been with Candida species, recent reports have highlighted the importance of Manuscript
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.