title: Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial of fish-oil-based lipid emulsion infusion for treatment of critically ill patients with severe sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency & Critical Care Medicine, Landseed Hospital, Ping-Chen City, Taoyuan County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Boon-Siang
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Khor
authors.forename: Shiumn-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: Hsin-Chin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Liang-Shun
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils