Levosimendan in Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Summary

Many pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass for repair of complex congenital malformations, require inotropic support for low cardiac output syndrome. Milrinone through its positive inotropic and vasodilatory effects is widely used for this purpose. The aim of the study is to compare Milrinone with Levosimendan, a novel inotope with calcium-sensitizing properties. We hypothesized that using Levosimendan would result in reduced serum lactate through a higher cardiac index.

Timeline

Start

2008-07

Primary completion

2009-09

Completion

2009-10

Publications

• Background De Hert SG, Lorsomradee S, Cromheecke S, Van der Linden PJ. The effects of levosimendan in cardiac surgery patients with poor left ventricular function. Anesth Analg. 2007 Apr;104(4):766-73. doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000256863.92050.d3.
• 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.
• Results 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.

Drugs

Indications