Fish oils may improve the outcome of coronary artery bypass surgery

Preoperative administration of fish oils has ' ... potentially beneficial effects on vascular physiology, platelet reactivity, and plasma lipid status that may combine to improve outcome in revascularization procedures'.

In a study, 15 patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery received eicosapentaenoic acid 3g + docosahexaenoic acid 1.3g daily for ~ 28 days prior to surgery. The patients' cardiovascular medications were maintained.

Compared with baseline values, serum triglycerides were significantly decreased, and platelet omega-6 and omega-3 content were significantly decreased and increased, respectively. Platelet adhesiveness was decreased from 89.7 to 82.4%, and platelet aggregration responses to stimulation and serum thromboxane were significantly reduced. Bleeding time was significantly increased in II patients, however, bleeding was not significantly increased at or after surgery when compared with a group of matched controls undergoing the same procedure. Compared with controls, fish oil recipients displayed a significant increase in spontaneous and stimulated prostacycJin production from the atrium. aorta and saphenous vein tissues. DeCatcrina R. Giannessi D. Mazzone A. Berini W. Lauerini G. et al. Vascular prostacyclin is increased in patients ingesting ",~3 polyunsaturated fatty acids berore coronary anery bypass graft surgery. Circulation 82: 428-438. Aug 1990 "'"

ISSN 0156-1703/90/0901-0017/0S01.00/0 © Adis International Ltd

17 INPHARMA® I Stp 1990