What is Omegaven?

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 and since that time he has regained his health and is now a happy, energetic little boy.

For more information about Omegaven, see the links below:

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
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