European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2009
Prophylactic treatment with levosimendan: a retrospective matched-control study of patients with reduced left ventricular function.
Levosimendan is a calcium-sensitising inotropic agent and a vasodilator used in the treatment of heart failure. Post-cardiotomy cardiac failure is more common in patients with a low preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We aim at investigating how prophylactic treatment with levosimendan before weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) affects postoperative haemodynamics and outcome in patients with low preoperative LVEF. ⋯ Prophylactic infusion of levosimendan initiated before weaning from CPB did not lead to superior haemodynamic parameters (CI, SVI, SvO(2)) compared to controls. Levosimendan reduced MAP and increased the need for norepinephrine postoperatively.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2009
Early results of bilateral pulmonary artery banding for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
To compare the haemodynamics and perioperative course of initial palliation with bilateral pulmonary artery banding (PAB) and the Norwood procedure. ⋯ Bilateral PAB with continuous lipo-prostaglandin E1 administration may improve early and intermediate mortality in infants with HLHS. Intimate care with hospitalisation may contribute to the results.