title: Levosimendan reversing low output syndrome after heart transplantation.
abstract: After heart transplantation primary graft failure is a major cause of early mortality. Treatment options include inotropes and mechanical assist devices. Developing better methods would impact on patients' short- and long-term survival. We present a case of primary graft failure manifested as cardiogenic shock unresponsive to catecholamines and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Reversal of low output syndrome was achieved with a new type of inotropic agent, levosimendan, leading to the later complete recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. liisa.petaja@hus.fi
authors.forename: Liisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Petäjä
authors.forename: Jorma T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Sipponen
authors.forename: Pekka J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hämmäinen
authors.forename: Heidi I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Markku T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Salmenperä
authors.forename: Raili T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Suojaranta-Ylinen
mesh_terms: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000077464:Simendan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan