Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
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J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. · Feb 2014
Review Meta AnalysisPerioperative levosimendan therapy is associated with a lower incidence of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.
Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer that enhances myocardial contractility without increasing myocardial oxygen use. Limited data are available on its renal-protective effect, and no statistically significant effects have been found. A meta-analysis was conducted for randomized studies to show whether perioperative levosimendan use could reduce acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ This analysis suggests that levosimendan might reduce renal injury in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. More prospective randomized studies are needed to further demonstrate the benefits of levosimendan on renal protection in cardiac surgery.