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Octreotide prescribing patterns in the palliation of symptomatic inoperable malignant bowel obstruction patients at a single US academic hospital

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Abstract

Background

Medical management is the cornerstone of malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) therapy and may include antisecretory agents such as octreotide. Currently, no data exist regarding octreotide prescribing patterns in US academic hospitals in the palliation of inoperable MBO. The aim of this study is to collect octreotide prescribing data to shape future prospective studies.

Methods

This retrospective chart review evaluated inpatient inoperable MBO admissions at a single academic US hospital between 2008 and 2011. The prescribing primary service (medical vs. surgical), inpatient day initiated, average octreotide daily dose, cumulative octreotide dose, days receiving octreotide, length of stay (LOS), subject age, cancer stage, lines of chemotherapy, cancer type, and overall survival were analyzed utilizing a Wilcoxon rank sum test, Spearman rank correlation test, Kaplan–Meier curves, log rank test, and multiple linear regression analysis when appropriate.

Results

A total of 767 patients received octreotide. A cancer diagnosis was documented in 134 patients and 37 of these (24 females and 13 males; mean age, 56.7 years) had a confirmed inoperable MBO. Statistical significance was not achieved for variables analyzed. However, octreotide prescribing trends were observed for several variables: the mean LOS was equivalent on both services (16.8 vs. 17 days), mean octreotide dose was higher on the medical service (201.2 μg vs. 119 μg surgical), cumulative octreotide dose was higher on the medical service (3,558 vs. 1,884 mcg), mean day of octreotide initiation was roughly equivalent (7.9 days medical vs. 8.8 days surgical), subjects on the medical service had a decreased overall survival, and earlier octreotide initiation (defined as <7 days) was associated with a decreased overall survival.

Limitation

The data were collected retrospectively, with a limited population distribution at a specific time.

Conclusions

These data possibly suggest that the MBO patients on the medical vs. surgical services are distinct patient populations. MBO patients on the medical service trended to receive higher cumulative doses and have a decreased overall survival compared with surgical patients. Consequently, future studies should possibly consider these distinct study groups.

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Acknowledgment

Conflict of interest

Dr. Roeland reports serving on the data safety and monitoring board of Cellceutix and the external advisory board for Lilly USA. All other authors have no disclosures to report. Dr. Roeland has full control of all primary data and will allow the journal to review the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Trials Office, University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Michael Hwang

  2. University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Rosene Pirrello

  3. University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Minya Pu

  4. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Karen Messer

  5. Division of Hematology/Oncology/Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, #0987, La Jolla, CA, 92023, USA

    Eric Roeland

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  1. Michael Hwang
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  2. Rosene Pirrello
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  3. Minya Pu
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  4. Karen Messer
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  5. Eric Roeland
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Correspondence to Eric Roeland.

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Hwang, M., Pirrello, R., Pu, M. et al. Octreotide prescribing patterns in the palliation of symptomatic inoperable malignant bowel obstruction patients at a single US academic hospital. Support Care Cancer 21, 2817–2824 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1860-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1860-1

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