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

ObjectiveThe 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.MethodsThis 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.ResultsFourteen 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.ConclusionAdjuvant 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.