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Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 15-16/2014

01.08.2014 | case report

Levosimendan reverses right-heart failure in a 51-year-old patient after heart transplantation

verfasst von: Stjepan Barisin, MD, PhD, Viktor Djuzel, MD, Ana Barisin, MD, PhD, Igor Rudez, MD, PhD

Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift | Ausgabe 15-16/2014

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Summary

Primary graft failure in the early postoperative period after heart transplantation, remains a main cause of a poor outcome. Current treatment options include pharmacological (catecholamines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors) and mechanical assist device support. Pharmacological support with catecholamines is related to elevated myocardial oxygen consumption and regional hypoperfusion leading to organ damage. On the other hand, levosimendan, as a calcium-sensitizing agent increases cardiac contractility without altering intracellular Ca2+ levels and increase in oxygen demand.
We present a case of a 51-year-old man, who was suffering from acute right-heart failure in the early postoperative period after heart transplantation. As a rescue therapy at the late stage of a low cardiac output state, levosimendan was started as continuous infusion at 0.1 μg/kg/min for 12 h and thereafter, at 0.2 μg/kg/min for the following 36 h. Levosimendan demonstrated an advanced pharmacological option as was portrayed in this case, where the right ventricle was under a prolonged severe depression and acutely overloaded after heart transplantation.
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Metadaten
Titel
Levosimendan reverses right-heart failure in a 51-year-old patient after heart transplantation
verfasst von
Stjepan Barisin, MD, PhD
Viktor Djuzel, MD
Ana Barisin, MD, PhD
Igor Rudez, MD, PhD
Publikationsdatum
01.08.2014
Verlag
Springer Vienna
Erschienen in
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Ausgabe 15-16/2014
Print ISSN: 0043-5325
Elektronische ISSN: 1613-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-014-0528-2

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