Tag Archives: octreotide

Octreotide in Angiodysplasia-Related Bleeding (the OCEAN Study)

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LCMJ Goltstein et al. Gastroenterolog 2024; 166: 690-703. Open Access! Standard of Care Versus Octreotide in Angiodysplasia-Related Bleeding (the OCEAN Study): A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Methods: The study was designed as a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Patients with angiodysplasia bleeding were required to have had at least 4 red blood cell (RBC) units or parental iron infusions, or both, in the year preceding randomization. Patients were allocated (1:1) to 40-mg octreotide long-acting release intramuscular every 28 days or standard of care, including endoscopic therapy.

Key findings:

  • Baseline: Patients (n=62, with mean age 72 years) required a mean number of 20.3 transfusion units and 2.4 endoscopic procedures in the year before enrollment.
  • During Study: The total number of transfusions was lower with octreotide (11.0) compared with standard of care (21.2). Octreotide reduced the annual volume of endoscopic procedures by 0.9.
  • Adverse events: Octreotide-related AEs were common (65%);however, these AEs were mild and self-limiting nature. They “rarely elicit treatment discontinuation.”
mean number of transfusion units patients in the octreotide
group and standard of care group

My take: Fortunately (for me), angiodysplasia is quite rare in the pediatric age group. In adults, octreotide helps reduce transfusions and need for endoscopy.

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NASPGHAN Postgraduate Course 2014 -Endoscopy Module

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This blog entry has abbreviated/summarized the presentations. Though not intentional, some important material is likely to have been omitted; in addition, transcription errors are possible as well.  Link to full syllabus:

PG Course Syllabus 2014

The Dreaded Wake-Up Call (Part A) –Maercedes Martinez (NY Presbyterian Hospital) (pg 55 syllabus)

Variceal Bleeding – “When RED is not attractive”

Discussed presentation of varices (gastric/esophageal), etiologies, association with portal hypertension. Reviewed variceal grading.

Medical management:

  • PICU admit
  • Avoid over-transfuse (goal ~ 8 g/dL)
  • Correct coagulopathy
  • Role of platelets is controversial/if trouble with endoscopy, may be helpful
  • Suggested dosing for octreotide/somatostatin: 2 mcg/kg bolus then 1-2 mcg/kg/hr (typically max 100 mcg/hr), antibiotics
  • Most patients do not require emergency overnight endoscopy.
  • Sclerotherapy and banding reviewed -including complications.
  • Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) and Surgical options briefly discussed

The Dreaded Wake-Up Call (Part B) –Lee Bass (Children’s Hospital of Chicago) (pg 67 in syllabus)

Nonvariceal GI Bleeding Management

  • Start with ABCs -airway, breathing, cardiovascular –fluid resuscitation/blood products
  • Restrictive transfusion strategy (Hgb <7 as threshold) (Villanueva et al NEJM 2013) helpful for survival in adults
  • Treatment with PPI improves rates of high risk stigmata on endoscopy
  • Prokinetics can improve identication of bleeding lesions
  • Preparation for endoscopy is most important (slide on page 70 of syllabus)
  • Also on page 70, pictures of typical findings with GI bleeding: nonbleeding vessel, adherent clot, spurting blood, oozing blood, and flat pigmented spot and clean base
  • Endoscopic management -combination of two techniques appears to be more effective than single method. injection, thermal probe, hemoclips, hemospray (not available in U.S.

Endoscopic Interventions for Biliary Tract Disease — Victor Fox (pg 75 in Syllabus)

Choledocholithiasis is most common need for interventional biliary endoscopy and increasing related to increase risk with increase in obesity.(Buxbaum J. Gastrointest Clin N Am 2013;23:251‐75)

Requires advanced training to achieve high level of skill and experience

  • >200 cases needed to achieve selective cannulation required for interventions
  •  Acquisition and maintenance of skills by pediatricians is controversial

Other points:

  • No equipment is favorably designed for young or small children
  • Success and complication rates are similar as in adults (Varadarajulu S, et al. Gastrointest Endosc 2004;60:367)
  • Discussed biliary strictures (etiologies, management/stents), choledochocele, papillotomy, bile leak (Soukup ES et al. J Pediatr Surg 2014;49:345‐8)

  • “Most strictures and leaks can be successfully managed endoscopically without need for surgical intervention”

Take-home message: Endoscopic biliary interventions are increasingly employed in children with similar safety and technical success as adult patients

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Disclaimer: These blog posts are for educational purposes only. Specific dosing of medications/diets (along with potential adverse effects) should be confirmed by prescribing physician/nutritionist.  This content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a condition.