Role of Fish Oil in Post-Cardiotomy Bleeding: A Summary of the Basic Science and Clinical Trials

Patients who are taking fish oil without other anticoagulants do not have an increased risk of bleeding surgical complications. Because of the highly variable amounts of actual eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in commercially available supplements, thromboelastography with platelet mapping would allow a surgeon to know if a coagulopathic effect is present in a patient taking fish oil, especially if the patient was also taking other anticoagulants.