Parenteral Fish Oil in Major Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery

Randomized Clinical Trial of Omega-3 Fatty Acid-supplemented Parenteral Nutrition Versus Standard Parenteral Nutrition in Patients Undergoing Major Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery

The aim of this study is to assess the effect of postoperative parenteral fish oil on clinical outcome and immune function after major laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

Postoperative patients are randomized by a sealed envelope to receive either a 50:50 (vol/vol) mixture of an oil rich in medium-chain fatty acids and soybean oil (termed MCT/LCT) or a mixture of MCT/LCT and fish oil Omegaven for 7 days. Full blood count, biochemistry and coagulation are routinely assessed. Fresh blood samples are centrifuged into plasma, red blood cells and lymphocytes then stored at -80°C pending analysis.

The primary endpoint was numbers of infective complications.Secondary endpoints were other clinical outcomes, length of hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality, along with plasma immunological markers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing an elective major laparoscopic abdominal surgery and required at least 5 days of parenteral nutrition

Exclusion Criteria:

• Metabolic disease
• Chronic kidney or liver failure
• Shock
• Contraindications for lipid administration
• PN during the 15 days before hospitalisation