The use of the somatostatin analogue octreotide for the conservative management of symptomatic cholecystocolonic fistula: a case report

Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2019 Feb;101(2):e59-e61. doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2018.0192. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Abstract

An 84-year-old woman presented with acute worsening of diarrhoea for a few weeks, with a background of chronic diarrhoea over the past 12 months accompanied by weight loss. Computed tomography during this admission revealed air in the biliary tree and resolution of gallstones in keeping with a cholecystocolonic fistula. Owing to her comorbidities, surgical management was deemed not to be the best option. She was trialled on octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, which effectively resolved her symptoms. This case presents an effective and novel method of managing cholecystocolonic fistulas conservatively in a patient where medical therapy is the ceiling of care.

Keywords: Cholecystocolonic fistula; Chronic diarrhoea; Octreotide; Somatostatin analogues.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biliary Fistula / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Conservative Treatment / methods*
  • Female
  • Gallbladder Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Fistula / drug therapy*
  • Octreotide / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Octreotide