Prophylactic Use of Levosimendan Versus Milrinone in Open Heart Surgery in Infants

Summary

Pediatric patients, especially infants undergoing open heart surgery have a predictable fall in cardiac index 6 to 18 hours after surgery, the so-called low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS). Patients, who have LCOS require more monitoring, more medication and a longer stay in intensive care unit. To prevent LCOS the phosphodiesterase inhibitor milrinone is routinely used during the first 24 hours after surgery. Levosimendan, a calcium- sensitizer improves cardiac muscle contractile force, vascular smooth muscle relaxation and coronary blood flow through calcium sensitization of the myocardial contractile filaments and opening of potassium channels without increasing oxygen consumption of the heart muscle cells. As the myocardium of infants is more calcium dependent than in later life, levosimendan should be of special benefit in this age group. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether levosimendan is superior to milrinone in preventing LCOS in infants after corrective open heart surgery.

Timeline

Start

2007-09

Primary completion

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Completion

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Publications

• Background Wernovsky G, Wypij D, Jonas RA, Mayer JE Jr, Hanley FL, Hickey PR, Walsh AZ, Chang AC, Castaneda AR, Newburger JW, Wessel DL. Postoperative course and hemodynamic profile after the arterial switch operation in neonates and infants. A comparison of low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest. Circulation. 1995 Oct 15;92(8):2226-35. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.92.8.2226.
• Background Hoffman TM, Wernovsky G, Atz AM, Kulik TJ, Nelson DP, Chang AC, Bailey JM, Akbary A, Kocsis JF, Kaczmarek R, Spray TL, Wessel DL. Efficacy and safety of milrinone in preventing low cardiac output syndrome in infants and children after corrective surgery for congenital heart disease. Circulation. 2003 Feb 25;107(7):996-1002. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000051365.81920.28.
• Background Turanlahti M, Boldt T, Palkama T, Antila S, Lehtonen L, Pesonen E. Pharmacokinetics of levosimendan in pediatric patients evaluated for cardiac surgery. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2004 Sep;5(5):457-62. doi: 10.1097/01.pcc.0000137355.01277.9c.
• Background Egan JR, Clarke AJ, Williams S, Cole AD, Ayer J, Jacobe S, Chard RB, Winlaw DS. Levosimendan for low cardiac output: a pediatric experience. J Intensive Care Med. 2006 May-Jun;21(3):183-7. doi: 10.1177/0885066606287039.
• Background Namachivayam P, Crossland DS, Butt WW, Shekerdemian LS. Early experience with Levosimendan in children with ventricular dysfunction. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2006 Sep;7(5):445-8. doi: 10.1097/01.PCC.0000235251.14491.75.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.