Hemodynamic aspects of levosimendan infusion in cardiosurgical patients with cardiac insufficiency

A non-randomized prospective study of 47 patients suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD) with initially low ejection fraction (EF) was performed. The patients were admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit over a period of 2006-2007 and after immediate myocardial revascularization the follow-up was complicated by cardiac insufficiency that required infusion of catechol amines. Use was made of levosimendan (simdax, Orion Corporation, Finland) in the dose recommended by the firm. In the course of infusion the central hemodynamics and blood oxygen-transfer function variations were measured. The periods, when in order to provide stable values of mean arterial pressure, cardiac output and general peripheral resistance, the doses of inotropic support and the flow rate of infusion therapy had to be changed, were measured. Relative clinical counter-indications were also found out.