Levosimendan Preloading in Low Ejection Fraction Cardiac Surgery Patients

Abstract

A low cardiac output state (LCOS) after cardiac surgery has been variously defined in global literature but has a common consensus on the consequence-increased mortality and morbidity. Levosimendan, with its interesting inotropic properties, has been used to combat this situation and has led to many meta-analyses and clinical trials over the years. The bulk of global literature focuses on prescribing levosimendan as an infusion at induction of anaesthesia or in the immediate postoperative period. This study presents data from a 6-year period with the use of levosimendan as a 24-hour preoperative infusion to prevent LCOS.