LEVOSIMENDAN FOR POSTOPERATIVE LOW CARDIAC OUTPUT SYNDROME IN A CHILD WITH CONGENITAL MITRAL INSUFFICIENCY

Vlad I.H. ¹, Buzoianu Anca Dana ^2
1 Heart Institute ‘’Prof. Niculae Stancioiu’’ Cluj-Napoca
² Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj Napoca

Abstract

The treatment of low cardiac output syndrome after cardiac operations in children is a real therapeutical challenge. Usually cathecolamines and phosphodyesterase inhibitors are the drugs of choice. Levosimendan has also been used in this context but only in a small number of patients so the clinical experience is very limited. This paper presents the successful use of levosimendan in a pediatric patient with postoperative low cardiac output syndrome. The treatment with levosimendan, associated to a number of other drugs and therapeutic procedures increased the myocardial contractility, improved the cardiac output and eventually led to the patient’s complete recovery.