Levosimendan for patients with impaired left ventricular function undergoing cardiac surgery

• Published in: Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery 2006-06, Vol.5 (3), p.322-326
• Main Authors: Tokuda, Yoshiyuki, Grant, Peter W, Wolfenden, Hugh D, Manganas, Con, Lyon, William J, Murala, John S.K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1569-9293; 1569-9285
• DOI: 10.1510/icvts.2005.122390

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, New South Wales, 2031, Australia *Corresponding author. Tel.: [phone]; fax: [phone]. E-mail address : tokuda{at}mxb.mesh.ne.jp (Y. Tokuda). The efficacy of levosimendan treatment for a low cardiac output status following cardiac surgery has not been established. Here, we review our initial experiences of the perioperative use of levosimendan. This study is a retrospective uncontrolled trial. Nine patients who underwent cardiac surgery, and developed a low cardiac output status resistant to conventional inotropic support, were given levosimendan. The mean preoperative ejection fraction was 35.2±3.4%. All patients were on concomitant inotropic agents and had previously undergone intra-aortic balloon pumping. Cardiac index increased immediately from 2.14±0.33 l/min/m 2 at baseline to 2.41±0.31 ( P =0.02) at 1 h, rising to 2.67±0.43 ( P