Effect of levosimendan on myocardial contractility, coronary and peripheral blood flow, and arrhythmias during coronary artery ligation and reperfusion in the in vivo pig model

In vivo pig model of regional ischaemia (left main coronary artery ligation for 30 minutes followed by 30 minutes reperfusion), n=21.

Levosimendan 0.08 mg/kg orally twice daily for 10 days, followed by 11.2 microg/kg IV bolus 30 minutes before coronary ligation, and continuous infusion of 0.2 microg/kg/min for the remainder of the experiment.

Placebo (oral and IV matching the intervention schedule).

Myocardial contractile function (cardiac output, contractility) and incidence of arrhythmias during ischaemia and reperfusion.surrogate