DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Planned elective pancreatic resection due to presumed pancreatic tumor (either proximal or distal pancreatic lesion) or presumed neoplasm of the ampullary or periampullary region Require peri-anastomotic drain(s) near the pancreaticoenterostomy or near the pancreatic stump closure The following are excluded: Emergency surgery of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis, pancreatic trauma) Known chronic pancreatitis (pancreatic cancer with duct obstructive chronic pancreatitis allowed) Need for total pancreatectomy Need for pancreatic transplantation Need for elective pancreatic-cyst anastomosis Need for pancreatic duct drainage operation without resection (pancreatic stents allowed if performed with partial pancreatic resection) Enucleation of a pancreatic neoplasm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 90 Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No neoadjuvant or postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after surgery Endocrine therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior somatostatin or somatostatin analogue No other concurrent somatostatin or somatostatin analogues Radiotherapy: No neoadjuvant or postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after surgery Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No concurrent pancreatic enzyme inhibitors (e.g., antiproteases) No concurrent immunosuppressive agents