ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of levosimendan versus dobutamine for the patients with severe valvular disease in perioperative period. Methods A randomized, single-blind, and controlled study was conducted in 59 patients with severe valvular disease in perioperative period. There were 48 males and 11 females at average age of 51±14 years (ranged from 18 to 70 years). The patients received Swan-Ganz catheterization with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP)≥15 mm Hg, cardiac index (CI)≤2.5 L/(min·m2), and hemodynamic stability. They were divided into a levosimendan group (n=25) and a dobutamine group (n=34) to receive levosimendan or dobutamine injection intravenously for 24 hours on base of anti-heart failure treatment by random digital table. ResultsIn the levosimendan group, the level of PCWP was lower than the baseline level with a statistical difference(12.51±8.76 mm Hg vs. 20.11±8.04 mm Hg, P < 0.01) after 24 hours' treatment, and the level of CI was higher than the baseline level with a statistical difference (2.58±0.72 L/(min·m2) vs. 2.01±0.54 L/(min·m2), P < 0.05) after 24 hours' treatment. In the levosimendan group, the changes of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), pulmonary arterial mean pressure (PAMP), sequential vascular response (SVR), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were more obvious compared with those in the dobutamine group with statistical differences (all P < 0.05) after 24 hours' treatment. The offline time and ICU stay in the levosimendan group reduced compared with those of the dobutamine group with statistical differences (47.3±10.4 h vs. 52.5±7.6 h, P < 0.05; 5.3±2.2 d vs. 6.8±3.5 d, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionCompared with dobutamine, levosimendan can improve hemodynamic stability of patients with severe valvular disease in perioperative period with good tolerability and safety.
ObjectiveThrough comparing the efficacy of levosimendan with dopamine for severe valvular disease patients with atrial fibrillation surgery to explore the efficacy and safety of levosimendan used in cardiac surgery. MethodsWe allocated 48 severe valvular disease patients with atrial fibrillation surgery into a dopamine group (24 patients with 15 males and 9 females at age of 55.0 ± 17.4 years) and a levosimendan group (24 patients with 18 males and 6 females at age of 52.3 ± 16.2 years) by random digital table in the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College between February and June 2014. The effects of the two groups were compared. ResultsHospitalization time (18.7±8.6 d vs 20.6±7.5 d, t=11.52, P=0.02) and the incidence of acute kidney injury(1/24 vs 5/24, χ2=25.30, P=0.01) in the levosimendan group were lower than those in the dopamine group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in other early clinical outcomes. At each postoperative time point, there was no statistical difference in creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) between the two groups. While 6 to 48 hours after operation, there were significant differences in cardiac troponin (cTnI) and brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) level between the two groups (P < 0.05). Five days after operation, the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) in the levosimendan group was higher than that in the dopamine group with statistical difference. ConclusionLevosimendan used for severe valvular disease with atrial fibrillation surgery is safe and effective, and has certain myocardial protection and renal protection effect, while its mechanism still needs further study.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of levosimendan on acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with left ventricular dysfunction (preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction≤40.0%) undergoing cardiac surgery.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted based on a comprehensive search of the randomized controlled trial (RCT) from PubMed, EMbase and The Cochrane Library (up to Jan 2018). The clinical endpoints included the incidence of AKI and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality, mechanic ventilation (MV) duration and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Random-effect model was used for the potential clinical inconsistency. All analyses were performed by RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0.ResultsThirteen trials with a total of 2 046 patients were selected. Compared with controls, levosimendan significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative AKI (OR=0.44, P=0.000 1, I2=0%), the risk of RRT (OR=0.63, P=0.02, I2=0%) and the mortality (OR=0.49, P<0.000 1, I2=0%). Levosimendan also shortened the postoperative MV duration (WMD=–5.62, P=0.07, I2=93%) and ICU stay (WMD=–1.50, P=0.005, I2=98%).ConclusionThe present meta-analysis suggests that perioperative levosimendan for patients with left ventricular ejection fraction≤40.0% undergoing cardiac surgery reduces the incidence of AKI, RRT and death, as well as shortens MV duration and ICU stay.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of postoperative use of levosimendan on patients with valve replacement.MethodPatients with valvular diseases who underwent valve replacement were prospectively enrolled during Jan 2014 to May 2018 in Qingdao Municipal Hospital, randomized to a levosimendan-treated group (n=93) and a control group (n=92) preoperatively. Patients in both groups underwent the same routine treatment preoperatively and postoperatively. In addition, patients in the levosimendan-treated group underwent levosimendan intravenous infusion 24 hours after entering ICU postoperatively. The clinical effect of the two groups was compared.ResultsCompared to the control group, the cardiac output(CO, 5.2±1.0 L/min vs. 4.4±1.1 L/min on the seventh day after surgery) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, 55.7%±2.5% vs. 50.5%±2.2% on the seventh day after surgery) of levosimendan-treated group were increased significantly at different time points(1 day, 3 days and 7 days after surgery)(P<0.05), and the brain natriuetic peptid (BNP) level (312.5±34.6 pg/ml vs. 455.4±45.2 pg/ml on the seventh day after surgery) was less than that of the control group (P<0.05). The dosage (11.5±1.8 mg/kg vs. 20.4±2.1 mg/kg) and administration time of vasoactive agents in the levosimendan-treated group were significantly lower or shorter than those in the control group (70.4±11.2 h vs. 110.5±12.1 h, P<0.05). The ICU stay length, and the total incidence of adverse events were less than those of the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionPostoperative use of levosimendan immediately after surgery can significantly improve the cardiac function status of patients who underwent valve replacement, reduce the dosage of vasoactive agents, shorten the time of ICU hospitalization, reduce the incidence of adverse events and enhance the patient’s recovery after valve replacement.