Levosimendan in ventricular dysfunction in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery. Hospital Santa Clara de Bogotá D.C. October 2011 to September 2012

Levosimendan en disfunción ventricular en el posoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca. Hospital Santa Clara de Bogotá D.C. Octubre 2011 a Septiembre 2012

Ventricular dysfunction after extracorporeal circulation causes low cardiac output syndrome in the postoperative period (10% prevalence). Levosimendan is a medication to improve refractory ventricular dysfunction. Objective: to describe the evolution of ventricular function in adults after cardiac surgery managed with levosimendan due to refractory ventricular dysfunction at the Hospital of Santa Clara in Bogotá DC, between October 2011 and September 2012. Methods: clinical characteristics and evolution are reported echocardiography of the ejection fraction (LVEF) with control at 24 hours and postoperatively. Results: 13 patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 59 years (SD, 10), range of 39 to 78 years, nine were men, two had diabetes mellitus. The median fraction of pre-surgical left ventricular ejection was 50% (RIQ 30% -60%). In response to the administration of levosimendan the median LVEF at 24 hours was 20% (RIQ 20% - 25%) and 35% per week (RIQ 35% - 40%). Two patients died. Conclusions: the use of levosimendan in patients with refractory left ventricular dysfunction contributes to the improvement of the ejection fraction.

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