Studying the effects of fish oil infusion to prevent atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: data from implantable continuous cardiac monitor

The study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that perioperative infusion of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids would reduce the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in CAD patients operated under CPB. The authors carried out a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. 39 CAD patients who had undergone surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized into 2 groups. 18 patients were infused with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omegaven, Fresenius Kabi, Germany) starting with 200 mg/kg/day before anaesthesia induction for 24 hours followed by 100 mg/kg/day from second to seventh day postoperatively. 21 patients received an equivalent dose of placebo (Intralipid, Fresenius Kabi, Germany). The primary endpoint was freedom from atrial fibrillation at 2-year follow-up. A Reveal® cardiac monitor was implanted subcutaneously in all patients. Data from cardiac monitor was collected on the 10th day and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Postoperative atrial fibrillation developed in 4 (19%) patients in the control group and in 5 (27.8%) patients in the study group at 10-day follow-up (p = 0.88). At 2-year follow-up, 5 (27.8%) patients in the control group and 6 (35.3%) patients in the study group had atrial fibrillation (p = 0.9). The results of our research do not confirm the efficiency of perioperative infusion of omega-3 polyun-saturated fatty acids to prevent the occurrence of atrial fibrillation.