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Levosimendan in patients with acute myocardial ischaemia undergoing emergency surgical revascularization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2008

A. Lehmann*
Affiliation:
Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Ludwigshafen, Germany
A.-H. Kiessling
Affiliation:
Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ludwigshafen, Germany
F. Isgro
Affiliation:
Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ludwigshafen, Germany
C. Zeitler
Affiliation:
Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Ludwigshafen, Germany
E. Thaler
Affiliation:
Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Ludwigshafen, Germany
J. Boldt
Affiliation:
Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Ludwigshafen, Germany
*
Correspondence to: Andreas Lehmann, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Postfach 21 73 52, D-67073 Ludwigshafen, Germany. E-mail: lehmanna@klilu.de; Tel: +49 621 503 3000; Fax: +49 621 503 3024
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Summary

Background and objective

Levosimendan is a calcium-sensitizing drug that enhances myocardial contractility without increasing intracellular calcium. By activating adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channels it exerts cardioprotective and vasodilatory effects.

Methods

A retrospective matched pair analysis was performed in 52 patients undergoing emergency coronary artery bypass grafting for acute myocardial ischaemia with or without cardiogenic shock. A total of 27 patients received levosimendan (bolus 6 μg kg−1; continuous infusion 0.2 μg kg−1 min−1) in addition to catecholamines, while 25 patients were treated with catecholamines only.

Results

Predicted mortality by logistic EuroSCORE was 42% (14–90%) in the levosimendan group and 38% (9–90%) in the control group (median, range). Cardiogenic shock was diagnosed in 52% of the patients in both groups. Compared to the control group, levosimendan-treated patients had fewer intra-aortic balloon pumps inserted (33% vs. 76%, P < 0.05) and were ventilated for a shorter period (39 ± 39 h vs. 106 ± 109 h, P < 0.05). In this limited number of patients, the reduction in mortality at day 30 (26% levosimendan; 44% control, P > 0.05) and need for dialysis (11% levosimendan; 32% control, P > 0.05) did not reach statistical significance. Length of hospital stay did not differ (14 ± 18 days, levosimendan; 13 ± 19 days, control; P > 0.05) between the two groups.

Conclusion

In this retrospective matched pair analysis of 52 patients undergoing emergency coronary artery bypass grafting for acute ischaemia, levosimendan reduced morbidity. The reduced morbidity did not translate into reductions in mortality or length of stay. A larger, prospective randomized trial is warranted to confirm the potentially beneficial effects of levosimendan in patients with acute ischaemia.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © European Society of Anaesthesiology 2008

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