• José L Pérez Vela, María A Corres Peiretti, Mercedes Rubio Regidor, Alberto Hernández Tejedor, Emilio Renes Carreño, Primitivo Arribas López, Julián Gutiérrez Rodríguez, and Narciso Perales Rodríguez De Viguri.
• Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Unidad de Postoperatorio Cardiaco, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España. perezvela@yahoo.es
• Rev Esp Cardiol. 2008 May 1; 61 (5): 534-9.

AbstractThe development of postoperative ventricular dysfunction immediately after heart transplantation is a serious complication that leads to low-output syndrome and which necessitates circulatory support. It is one of the most common causes of early morbidity and mortality. We present our experience with 6 heart transplant patients who were treated with intravenous levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer with inodilator properties, after regular hemodynamic therapy with sympathomimetic amines failed to result in a satisfactory hemodynamic status. Use of this drug was well tolerated and brought about hemodynamic improvements that were sufficient to enable patients to be weaned from inotropic support with amines and which led to clinical recovery, with 5 of the 6 patients being discharged from the intensive care unit.

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