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.