Clinical trial NCT00488904: Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Postoperative Complications After Colorectal Surgery
Official title: Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Postoperative Complication After Colorectal Surgery
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Colorectal Cancer
Keywords: infection
colorectalcancer
omega-3 fedtsyre
complications
Lead sponsor: Aalborg University Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2007-06-20
Enrollment: 148
Sex: ALL
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: To discover whether an Omega-3 fatty acid (eicosapentaenoic acid/EPA and docosahexaensyre/DHA) enriched nutritional supplement given 7 days preoperatively and 7 days postoperatively may reduce the frequency of postoperative infectious complications defined as: pneumonia, wound infection, urinary tract infection, peritonitis (including anastomotic leakage) and septic conditions of any cause in patients who undergo elective operations for colorectal cancer compared with a nutritional preparation that is identical apart from the EPA content.

Detailed description: Several earlier studies indicate that perioperative supplements of Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of postoperative complications after major surgery through an immune modulating effect in the form of a downward adjustment of the inflammatory response. (1-7) The interpretation of these studies is made more difficult by differences in their method of administration (parentally/enterally), differences in the time of the intervention (preoperative/postoperative) and differences in the selection of patients (malnourished cancer patients / upper GI cancer patients/mixed surgical patients) and finally because many of the studies deal with a so-called immune modulating preparation containing a mixture of arginine, Omega-3 fatty acids and ribonucleic acid.

The biological effects of fish oils are related to their content of such things as Omega-3 fatty acids that can be incorporated in cell membranes where they influence receptor function, enzyme activity and the production of lipid mediators. The cells from the immune system perform their functions through membrane-associated activities like secretion of cytokines, antibodies, lymphocyte transformation and contact lysine. These functions can be affected by changes in the membrane structure. (7;8) Besides the effect parameter of postoperative septic complications, many of these studies use pseudoparameters such as length of stay, need for respirator treatment, time in intensive care as well as a wide range of biochemical changes whose relevance to the clinic process can be difficult to assess. (1-7;9-13;). It is well-known that early enteral nutrition reduces the risk of postoperative complications (14; 15). Many of the aforementioned studies similarly point to a benefit from using Omega-3 fatty acid enriched nutritional preparations preoperatively. There is now a commercially manufactured nutritional preparation for peroral consumption containing Omega-3 fatty acids - Supportan (Fresenius-Kabi). The preparation is more energy intensive than similar drink preparations, but does not otherwise differ in composition from standard preparations. It is approved by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration for this study.

In 2 x 200ml of Supportan 3 g EPA and DHA are given daily. In other studies up to 10 g have been given daily without side effects. (6; 16)

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients for elective colorectal resection for cancer, ASA group 1-3 (see annex)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diabetes Mellitus
* Alcohol consumption \> 5 drinks per day
* Acute operation
* Non Danish speakers
* Patients with untreated psychiatric conditions
* Pregnant or breast-feeding women
* Patients with ICD-pacemaker
* Patients with reduces kidney function and immunosuppressed patients
* patients that eat or drink omega-3 fatty acids
* patients operated for 2 different cancers in 1 operation

Primary outcomes:
measure: In previous studies a complication frequency (infectious complications) of at least 30% was found for this type of operation (14; 17) This figure has to be reduced to 10% (MIREDIF = 20%).
timeFrame: 1 year
Secondary outcomes:
measure: The secondary outcome variable is hospitalisation time and mortality. Given the material's size, it is not expected to be possible to demonstrate a significant reduction in mortality
timeFrame: 1 year
measure: incorporation of fatty acids in cell membranes
timeFrame: after 7 days of intervention
measure: development in interleukins after surgery
timeFrame: day 1-4 after surgery
measure: lenght of stay in hospital
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Aalborg
country: Denmark
facility: Aalborg Hospital
Study officials:
affiliation: Aalborg Hospital the lipid clinic
name: Erik be schmidt, professor
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
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