Sam is completely dependant on IV nutrition, called TPN.  Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) often causes liver disease, which is believed to be associated
specifically with Intralipid, the standard omega-6 based fatty acid which is normally derived from plant sources. A promising new treatment replaces the
intralipid in his TPN with an omega-3 based fatty acid called Omegaven which is derived from refined fish oil.

Sam began receiving Omegaven on August 4th, 2008.  Please see our journal for updates on his progress.
1
Associated Liver Disease and the Role of Lipid Emulsions: An Update:   
This is an article from the Oley foundation on information presented by Drs. Puder and Gura at the Oley Consumer/Clinician Conference in Cape Cod in
June 2007.

http://www.oley.org/lifeline/PN_Liver_Disease.html



Omegaven Section from the Short Gut Wiki:

http://grey.colorado.edu/shortgut/index.php/Omegaven



Dream Magazine article on Omegaven:

http://www.childrenshospital.org/dream/dream_fall06/fishing_for_the_right_solution.html



U.S. News article from 05/29/08 on Omegaven

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/best-childrens-hospitals/2008/05/29/thanks-to-fish-oil-shes-a-golden-girl-no-longer.html



Google Search for Omegaven

Clicking here will do a Google search for recent "Omegaven" postings
Sam before Omegaven
64 days on Omegaven
Sam with Dr. Puder and Loren
Graphs of Sam's Total & Direct Bilirubin during the first few weeks of receiving Omegaven:
Total Bilirubin.  Click image for full size.
Direct Bilirubin.  Click image for full size.
Omegaven