n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids for the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been proposed as prophylactic therapy in the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to better clarify this issue.

Methods: An electronic database search for randomized controlled trials on the effect of n-3 PUFAS on POAF was conducted, limited to English language publications until December 2010.

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Despite the robust evidence of the potential benefits of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation in patients with established coronary artery disease, the impact of this therapy on patients after coronary artery bypass grafting remains completely unknown.

Methods: Among 2,100 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting in one tertiary care institution, 930 (44%) were put under n-3 PUFA therapy chronically at discharge. The impact of n-3 PUFAs was assessed by means of propensity-score adjusted analysis.

Dual renin-angiotensin system blockade for patients with prosthesis-patient mismatch.

Background: Patients with prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) continue to show some degrees of left ventricular hypertrophy after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. The renin-angiotensin system plays a major role in promoting and sustaining hypertrophy. In a controlled, randomized study, we tested the hypothesis that the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) plus angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) can be more effective in decreasing hypertrophy than a largely employed association such as ACEi plus ß-blockers in PPM patients.