Early experience with Levosimendan in children with ventricular dysfunction

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe our preliminary experience with Levosimendan, a new calcium-sensitizing agent in critically unwell infants and children with severe heart failure. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Fifteen children aged 7 days to 18 yrs (median age 38 months) with severe myocardial dysfunction secondary to end-stage heart failure, or acute heart failure, who were inotrope-dependent (requiring at least one catecholamine). INTERVENTIONS: A single dose (bolus and intravenous infusion over 24-48 hrs) of Levosimendan was given under continuous hemodynamic monitoring in our intensive care unit. Eleven children received a single dose, thr..