To investigate the therapeutic effect of somatostatin on postoperative patients with colorectal cancer complicated by liver cirrhosis.

Fifty patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal carcinoma, combined with liver cirrhosis, were selected from Raoping People’s Hospital between May 2010 and May 2012. The patients were divided into experimental group and control group. Drainage of abdominal cavity and gastrointestinal decompression were recorded, so as the duration of abdominal cavity drainage tube and nasogastric tube. Patients’ liver function before and after operation in the two groups were also monitored.

Drainage of abdominal cavity and gastrointestinal decompression was significantly reduced in experimental group. Drainage of abdominal cavity was (800±65) ml in experimental group while it was (1 500±75) ml in control group (t=32.265, P=0.008). Drainage of gastrointestinal decompression was (900±60) ml and (2 000±100) ml (t=47.162, P=0.006) in experimental group and control group, respectively. Anal exhausting time was shorter in experimental group (t=1.754, P<0.05). Duration of nasogastric tube in the experimental group was less than the control group [(3.0±1.0) d vs (5.4±0.9) d, t=8.920, P<0.01]. Deterioration rate of liver function in experimental group was 8% (2/25), while it was 48% (12/25) in control group (χ²=9.921, P=0.002).

Application of somatostatin in patients with colorectal cancer complicated by liver cirrhosis is helpful to reduce the incidence of deterioration of liver function, and it may also reduce postoperative complications and lower the risk of operation mortality.