Prophylactic Use of Levosimendan Versus Milrinone in Open Heart Surgery in Infants
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
1969-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Pediatric patients, especially infants undergoing open heart surgery have a predictable fall
in cardiac index 6 to 18 hours after surgery, the so-called low cardiac output syndrome
(LCOS). Patients, who have LCOS require more monitoring, more medication and a longer stay in
intensive care unit. To prevent LCOS the phosphodiesterase inhibitor milrinone is routinely
used during the first 24 hours after surgery. Levosimendan, a calcium- sensitizer improves
cardiac muscle contractile force, vascular smooth muscle relaxation and coronary blood flow
through calcium sensitization of the myocardial contractile filaments and opening of
potassium channels without increasing oxygen consumption of the heart muscle cells. As the
myocardium of infants is more calcium dependent than in later life, levosimendan should be of
special benefit in this age group. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether
levosimendan is superior to milrinone in preventing LCOS in infants after corrective open
heart surgery.