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Studies of somatostatin for nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding have yielded inconsistent results. This meta-analysis summarizes the effect on bleeding of somatostatin and its analog octreotide in 1,829 persons hospitalized with endoscopically confirmed nonvariceal upper GI hemorrhage.
Of 14 randomized studies identified in the English-language literature, 12 evaluated somatostatin and 2 octreotide; both drugs were usually given over a 48- to 72-hour period. Nine studies found a benefit for one of these drugs. Compared with patients receiving placebo or an H2-antagonist, patients treated with somatostatin or its analog were significantly less likely to continue bleeding or bleed again (pooled relative risk, 0.53), or to require …