Nonsurgical closure of esophago-respiratory fistulas: Role for the somatostatin analogue octreotide acetate?

Authors

E. S. Nylen, Washington DC VA Medical Center
J. L. Hall, Washington DC VA Medical Center
S. H. Krasnow, Washington DC VA Medical Center
K. L. Becker, Washington DC VA Medical Center
R. G. Wadleigh, Washington DC VA Medical Center

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-1994

Journal

American Journal of the Medical Sciences

Volume

308

Issue

3

DOI

10.1097/00000441-199409000-00005

Abstract

Esophago-respiratory fistulas (ERF) do not close spontaneously and are uniformly fatal. A somatostatin analogue (octreotide acetate) was used in three consecutive patients to promote the closure of ERF. In 2 patients with esophageal cancer, treatment with octreotide acetate was associated with fistula closure in 30 and 46 days, respectively. In a third patient with virally-induced ERF, treatment was associated with improvement of the inflammation of the fistula before the patient's death from pulmonary aspiration after 40 days of treatment. These preliminary observations suggest that octreotide acetate treatment of ERF should receive further investigative scrutiny.

APA Citation

Nylen, E., Hall, J., Krasnow, S., Becker, K., & Wadleigh, R. (1994). Nonsurgical closure of esophago-respiratory fistulas: Role for the somatostatin analogue octreotide acetate?. American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 308 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00000441-199409000-00005