title: Intracoronary infusion of levosimendan to treat postpericardiotomy heart failure.
abstract: Systemic hypotension limits the intravenous use of levosimendan, particularly in coronary disease. Published reports show that the intracoronary administration of levosimendan in animal models causes an increase of coronary blood flow without systemic hypotension. In this case report, the intracoronary administration of levosimendan bolus in a 74-year-old man with postpericardiotomy heart failure elicited beneficial cardiac effects, increasing both systolic and diastolic functions and blood flow in all of the grafts. No changes of heart rate and systemic arterial blood pressure were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ospedale Maggiore della Carità, School of Medicine, University of East Piedmont A. Avogadro, Novara, Italy. philippe.caimmi@med.unipmn.it
authors.forename: Philippe-Primo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Caimmi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grossini
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teodori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077464:Simendan
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan