The preventi̇ve effect of omega-3 fatty aci̇ds on laryngotracheal stenosi̇s after tracheotomy

Aim: In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of omega-3 fatty acid usage in order to prevent laryngotracheal stenosis which is one of the complications that may occur after experimental tracheotomy operation. Material Methods: Our study was achieved in Animal Production and Research Laboratory of Düzce University Medical Faculty Hospital in two months from August 2012 to September 2012. We started the study in two groups with 24 rats. It was planned to define twelve rats as study group and twelve rats for control. It was finished with 10 rats in study group and 9 rats in control group. After performing tracheotomy, the study group was given omega-3 fatty acid and control group was given normal saline Rats were decanulated in the first week and observed for 3 weeks. Then, the rats were sacrificed and their tracheae were removed. The specimens were examined histopathologically for the level of inflammation, degree of fibrosis, maximum-minimum tracheal wall thicknesses and maximum-minimum tracheal luminal length. With the results, stenosis indexes were stastistically calculated and interpreted. Conclusions: There were no statistically significant differences in evaluated parameters between the study group and the control. Omega-3 fatty acid had no effect on preventing laryngotracheal stenosis which may occur after tracheotomy operations. KEY WORDS: Omega-3 fatty acid, tracheotomy, laryngotracheal stenosis