SUMMARYSix patients with short intestine (jejunal length 25–70 cm) on long‐term parenteral nutrition, needing 4–5 L of intravenous fluid daily, were given octreotide (a somatostatin analogue, SMS 201–995) to investigate whether it would reduce beneficially their secretory diarrhoea (3.6–6.9 kg/day). They consumed the same diet for 2 control days, followed by 2 test days. Octreotide was given intravenously, initially in a dose of 50 μg b.d. through the central feeding line. There was a significant reduction of daily stomal output (0.5–5.0 kg) and daily sodium and potassium output; however there was no significant change in energy absorption. The response to octreotide was greatest in those patients who absorbed least nutrients. A dose increase to 100 μg t.d.s. gave no further measurable benefit though the patients found it smoothed‐out the post‐prandial rise in stomal output. Two patients were continued on long‐term octreotide therapy, which allowed for a daily reduction in intravenous fluid of 1 and 1.5 L. Octreotide's anti‐secretory effect was found to have been maintained when it was retested in one patient after a year
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