A Cost Analysis of Somatostatin use in the Prevention of Pancreatic Fistula after Pancreatectomy

Background Studies have shown that somatostatin reduces the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistula. However, no study to date has analyzed the cost effectiveness of this treatment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cost effectiveness of prophylactic somatostatin use with respect to pancreatectomy. Methods Review of prospectively collected 2002 patient hepato-pancreatico-biliary database from January 2007 to May 2012. Patients received somatostatin prophylactically at the discretion of their surgeon. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis to determine if somatostatin had an effect on imaging costs, lab costs, “other” costs, PT/OT costs, surgery costs, room and board costs, and total hospital costs. Results A total of 179 patients underwent pancreatectomy at a single teaching institution. Median total hospital costs were 90,673.50 (59,979–743,667) for patients who developed a postoperative pancreatic fistula versus 86,563 (39,190–463,601) for those who did not ( p = 0.004). Median total hospital costs were 89,369 (39,190–743,667) for patients who were administered somatostatin versus 85,291 (40,092–463,601) for patients who did not ( p = 0.821). Conclusions Pancreatic fistulas significantly increase hospital costs, and somatostatin has been shown to decrease the rate of pancreatic fistula formation. Somatostatin has no significant effect on hospital costs.