Efficacy and safety of milrinone in preventing low cardiac output syndrome in infants and children after corrective surgery for congenital heart disease.
BACKGROUND
Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), affecting up to 25% of neonates and young children after cardiac surgery, contributes to postoperative morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of prophylactic milrinone in pediatric patients at high risk for developing LCOS.


RESULTS
The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 3 parallel groups (low dose, 25- microg/kg bolus over 60 minutes followed by a 0.25- microg/kg per min infusion for 35 hours; high dose, 75- microg/kg bolus followed by a 0.75- microg/kg per min infusion for 35 hours; or placebo). The composite end point of death or the development of LCOS was evaluated at 36 hours and up to 30 days after randomization. Among 238 treated patients, 25.9%, 17.5%, and 11.7% in the placebo, low-dose milrinone, and high-dose milrinone groups, respectively, developed LCOS in the first 36 hours after surgery. High-dose milrinone significantly reduced the risk the development of LCOS compared with placebo, with a relative risk reduction of 55% (P=0.023) in 238 treated patients and 64% (P=0.007) in 227 patients without major protocol violations. There were 2 deaths, both after infusion of study drug. The use of high-dose milrinone reduced the risk of the LCOS through the final visit by 48% (P=0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of high-dose milrinone after pediatric congenital heart surgery reduces the risk of LCOS.
Hoffman
Timothy M
TM
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa 19104, USA.
Wernovsky
Gil
G
Atz
Andrew M
AM
Kulik
Thomas J
TJ
Nelson
David P
DP
Chang
Anthony C
AC
Bailey
James M
JM
Akbary
Akbar
A
Kocsis
John F
JF
Kaczmarek
Raymond
R
Spray
Thomas L
TL
Wessel
David L
DL
D001794:Blood Pressure; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D020105:Milrinone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D013577:Syndrome
D019344:Lactic Acid; D020105:Milrinone; D010100:Oxygen