[The effects of levosimendan on the cardiac function and prognosis in elderly patients with septic shock and myocardial contractility impairment].

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effect of levosimendan on cardiac function and prognosis in elderly patients with septic myocardial contractility impairment. Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted. The elderly patients with septic myocardial contractility impairment who were admitted to Intensive Care Unit in Zhejiang Hospital were consecutively enrolled from January 2017 to September 2017. The key inclusive criterion was left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤50% after fluid resuscitation. A total of 30 patients were randomly assigned to levosimendan group (n=15) and dobutamine group (n=15). Based onconventional treatment, intravenous dobutamine (5 µg per kilogram of body weight per minute) or levosimendan (0.2 µg per kilogram of body weight per minute)were continuously administrated for 24 hours in two groups. At 0 h,24 h,48 h, 72 h after injection, the following parameters or values were recorded including serum lactic acid (Lac), and echocardiographic parameters such as LVEF, stroke volume (SV). The time of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU and 28-day mortality were compared in two groups. Results: Compared with dobutamine group, blood Lac at 24 h [(1.97±1.10)mmol/L vs. (2.73±2.06) mmol/L, P=0.002] decreased significantlyin levosimendan group. LVEF and SV were significantly higher in levosimendan group at 24 h [LVEF(47.93±5.01)% vs.(45.60±5.47)%, P=0.004;SV(47.73±14.01) ml vs. (44.80±16.89) ml, P=0.035;respectively], 48 h [LVEF(51.07±5.05)% vs.(46.73±6.34)%, P=0.004;SV (49.87±14.15) ml vs. (45.07±16.94) ml, P=0.005;respectively] and 72 h [LVEF(53.20±5.92)% vs. (47.70±6.71)%, P=0.002;SV(51.27±14.98) ml vs. (45.73±17.34) ml, P=0.010]. The time of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU and 28-day mortality were comparable between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: Levosimendan improves cardiac systolic function and tissue perfusion in elderly patients with septic myocardial contractility impairment. However, cardiac diastolic function, liver and kidney function are not further improved by levosimendan compare with dubutamine. Time of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU and 28-day mortality in two groups are similar.