title: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces post-operative atrial fibrillation incidence in patients undergoing "on-pump" coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative and postoperative therapy with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in reducing the incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  201 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomized to 1) a control group (105 patients), or 2) n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids 2 g/day group (96 patients) for at least 5 days before surgery and until hospital discharge. Groups were further subdivided in four subgroups according to the operative technique: "off-pump" or "on-pump". The primary end point was to evaluate the reduced incidence of postoperative in-hospital atrial fibrillation in the (N-3 PUFA) group. Secondary end points were the impact of the surgical technique on the incidence of postoperative arrhythmia and the impact of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids therapy on post-operative hospital length of stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation was 17.4% (35/201). The arrhythmia occurred in 11.4% (11/96) of the patients in therapy with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and in 22.8% (24/105) in the control groups. In particular, the statistical analysis of subgroups showed a significant reduction of postoperative atrial fibrillation only in the group including patients treated with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids undergoing "on-pump" coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The length of hospital stay did not differ among all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids administration significantly reduces the incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing "on-pump" coronary artery bypass graft surgery. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids therapy is not associated with a shorter hospital stay.
authors: Department of Cardiac Surgery, S. Anna e S. Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy; Via F. Palasciano, 81100 (CE), Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Sorice
authors: Francesco Paolo
authors: FP
authors: Tritto
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Sordelli
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Gregorio
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Piazza
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3