Do fish-oil (omega-3) supplements increase bleeding during spine surgery?
Omega-3 and fish oil supplements do not cause increased bleeding during spinal decompression surgery
In simple words
Many people take fish-oil (omega-3) supplements, which are often thought to raise bleeding risk. This study checked whether they increased bleeding during lower-back decompression surgery.
What the study looked at
95 consecutive patients having posterior lumbar decompression by one surgeon. 16 had taken omega-3 supplements within two weeks before surgery and were compared with those who had not.
What it found
Blood loss was similar in the two groups (about 138 mL vs 154 mL, not a significant difference). There were no bleeding complications in the omega-3 group.
Why it matters for patients
Recent fish-oil use did not appear to increase bleeding in this type of surgery. Patients should still tell their surgeon about every supplement they take.
Authors: Kepler CK, Huang RC, Meredith D, Kim JH, Sharma AK · J Spinal Disord Tech 2012;25(3):129–132