Levosimendan for Hemodynamic Support after Cardiac Surgery [1]
The authors report here on the results of the Italian CHEETAH study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examining whether adding the unique inotrope levosimendan—in low doses—improves 30-day mortality after cardiac surgery in patients with perioperative LV dysfunction. The trial was halted after the first 506 patients were enrolled because of the futility of continuing the trial. There were no significant differences between the levosimendan group and the placebo group in 30-day survival, as well as for any of the measured postoperative secondary outcomes. (Levosimendan is currently not FDA approved for use in the U.S.)