Table 6

Clinical outcomes in the two treatment groups

Fish oil group

(n = 13)

MCT/LCT group

(n = 10)

Ventilated days

10 ± 4

11 ± 4

(excluding three patients who died in <5 days)

(11 ± 5)

(12 ± 4)

ICU stay (days)

12 ± 4

13 ± 4

(excluding three patients who died in <5 days)

(14 ± 5)

(14 ± 4)

Length of hospital stay (days)

22 ± 7*

55 ± 16

(excluding three patients who died in <5 days)

25 ± 8**

61 ± 17

(excluding all eight patients who died)

28 ± 9***

82 ± 19

five day mortality

15% (2 out of 13)

10% (1 out of 10)

28 day mortality

31% (4 out of 13)

40% (4 out of 10)

Data are mean ± SEM, apart from mortality values

*P = 0.079 vs. MCT/LCT (Student's t-test with equal variances not assumed; P = 0.062 after adjusting for age and glucose supply; P = 0.038 after adjusting for age, glucose supply and SAPS II at entry);

**P = 0.078 vs. MCT/LCT (Student's t-test with equal variances not assumed; P = 0.130 after adjusting for age and glucose supply; P = 0.070 after adjusting for age, glucose supply and SAPS II at entry);

***P = 0.044 vs. MCT/LCT (Student's t-test with equal variances not assumed; P = 0.068 after adjusting for age and glucose supply; P = 0.057 after adjusting for age, glucose supply and SAPS II at entry)

Barbosa et al. Critical Care 2010 14:R5   doi:10.1186/cc8844