title: Successful use of levosimendan in a patient during cardiopulmonary bypass.
abstract: Levosimendan (LS) is a novel calcium sensitizer drug that enhances cardiac contractility without increasing myocardial oxygen consumption, and induces vasodilatation. Positive inotropic support is routinely used for weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass circulation in patients with reduced left ventricular function. This case report represents the successful usage of LS for weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass circulation after coronary artery bypass surgery. Levosimendan infusion was started at the sixth hour of cardiopulmonary bypass circulation. There was a dramatic increase in cardiac output 20 minutes after LS infusion, and weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass circulation was achieved. We suggest that LS enhances cardiac performance during and after cardiopulmonary bypass, and can be useful for patients who are unable to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass.
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, School of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara, Turkey. erkaniriz@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iriz
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erer
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zor
authors.forename: Zerrin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ozkose
authors.forename: Mehmet Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ozdogan
mesh_terms: D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017682:Myocardial Stunning / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077464:Simendan; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000077464:Simendan