Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Fish-oil-based Lipid Emulsion Infusion for Treatment of Critically Ill Patients With Severe Sepsis

• Main Authors: Boon-Siang Khor, Shiumn-Jen Liaw, Hsin-Chin Shih, Liang-Shun Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2011-01-01
• Series: Asian Journal of Surgery
• Subjects: clinical assessment; fish oil-based lipid emulsion; severe sepsis
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1015958411600110

The present study aimed to determine the clinical benefits to critically ill patients with severe sepsis of receiving parenteral fish-oil-based lipid emulsion as adjuvant treatment. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 28 patients with severe sepsis in the intensive care unit of a primary and referral teaching hospital. Results: Fourteen patients were randomly assigned to the study group and a similar number were placed in the control group. The study group showed a significant score reduction for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II on day 3 (p = 0.004), day 5 (p = 0.032) and day 7 (p = 0.03), together with APACHE III (p = 0.028) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (p = 0.019) on day 7. The serum procalcitonin level was significantly decreased in the study group on day 3 (p = 0.018), day 5 (p = 0.011) and day 7 (p = 0.028). However, the serum tumour necrosis factor-α level, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay showed no significant difference when the groups were compared. Conclusion: Adjuvant treatment with fish-oil-based lipid emulsion of 10% Omegaven for critically ill patients with severe sepsis is probably safe and helpful for rapid reduction of clinical severity of the disease.