Key result
Levosimendan significantly improved portal vein blood flow at 48 hours compared to dobutamine (41% vs. 11% increment from baseline, P<0.05) in patients with low cardiac output after cardiac surgery.
Why the study?
Does levosimendan improve systemic and hepatic haemodynamics compared to dobutamine in patients with a low cardiac output state after on-pump cardiac surgery?
Population
n=25 patients with a low cardiac output state (cardiac index < 2.2 l/min/m2) after on-pump cardiac surgery
Comparison
Levosimendan intravenous bolus over 15 minutes… vs Dobutamine infusion 7.5 µg/kg/min for 24 hours
Design
RCT, randomised
Follow-up
48 hours
Authors
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Levosimendan may be preferred over dobutamine for hepatic perfusion in post-cardiac surgery low-output states; extends RCT evidence on splanchnic hemodynamics.
RCT (n=25)
randomised
Does levosimendan improve systemic and hepatic haemodynamics compared to dobutamine in patients with a low cardiac output state after on-pump cardiac surgery?
Absolute Event Rate: 41% vs 11%
p-value: p=<0.05
Levosimendan improves hepatic blood flow through both the hepatic artery and portal venous system better than dobutamine in patients with low cardiac output after cardiac surgery.
Álvarez et al. (2013) conducted an RCT in Low cardiac output state after cardiac surgery (n=25). Levosimendan vs. Dobutamine 7.5 µg/kg/min infusion for 24 hours was evaluated on Improvement in portal vein blood flow at 48 hours (increment from baseline) (p=<0.05). Levosimendan significantly improved portal vein blood flow at 48 hours compared to dobutamine (41% vs. 11% increment from baseline, P<0.05) in patients with low cardiac output after cardiac surgery.
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