1
|
Pilia E, Silvetti S, Bohane SM, Pusceddu E, Belletti A. Safety of Levosimendan in Pediatric Patients: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2024; 38:820-828. [PMID: 38135567 DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2023.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The potential risks associated with the use of levosimendan in the pediatric population has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to review the available evidence regarding the safety of this treatment. METHODS Bio Med Central, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of clinical trials were searched for studies describing levosimendan administration in the pediatric population in any setting. Relevant studies were independently screened, selected, and their data extracted by two investigators. The authors excluded: reviews, meta-analyses, as well as basic research and trials involving patients >18 years old. The primary outcome was the number and the type of adverse side effects reported during levosimendan administration. RESULTS The updated systematic review included 48 studies, enrolling a total of 1,271 pediatric patients who received levosimendan as treatment (790 patients in the 11 studies that reported side effects). The primary adverse effects of levosimendan administration were hypotension and cardiac arrhythmias, particularly tachycardia. Hypotension occurred in approximately 28.9% of patients, while arrhythmia occurred in about 12.3% of patients. Meta analysis of RCTs revealed a rate of all-cause mortality of 2.0% (8 out of 385) in the levosimendan group compared to 3.9% (15 out of 378) in the control group (dobutamine, milrinone or placebo) (risk ratio [RR] = 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.25-1.21; P = 0.14; I2 = 0%) CONCLUSIONS: Hypotension and cardiac arrhythmia are the most reported side effects of levosimendan in pediatric patients. However, adverse events remain underreported, especially in randomized trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eros Pilia
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; ARNAS G. Brotzu, Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Liver Transplantation Center, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Simona Silvetti
- Dipartimento di Cardioanestesia e Terapia Intensiva, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS - IRCCS Cardiovascular Network, Genova, Italy
| | - Shai Marc Bohane
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Pusceddu
- ARNAS G. Brotzu, Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Liver Transplantation Center, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Belletti
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Silvetti S, Belletti A, Bianzina S, Momeni M. Effect of Levosimendan Treatment in Pediatric Patients With Cardiac Dysfunction: An Update of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2021; 36:657-664. [PMID: 34656399 DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2021.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Levosimendan increasingly has been used to treat heart failure and cardiac dysfunction in pediatric patients. Currently, there is only limited evidence that this drug positively affects outcomes. The authors' aim was to investigate the effects of levosimendan on hemodynamic parameters and outcomes in pediatric patients in all clinical settings. The study design was a systematic review of randomized and nonrandomized studies. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included in a meta-analysis. The primary outcome of the meta-analysis was the effect of levosimendan on central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) and lactate values as surrogate markers of low-cardiac-output syndrome. The study setting was any acute care setting. Study participants were pediatric patients (age <18 years) receiving levosimendan, and the intervention was levosimendan versus any control treatment. The authors identified 44 studies published from 2004 to 2020, including a total of 1,131 pediatric patients. Nine studies (enrolling 547 patients) were RCTs, all performed in a pediatric cardiac surgery setting. Three RCTs were judged to carry a low risk of bias. In the RCTs, levosimendan administration was associated with a significant improvement of ScvO2 (p = 0.03) and a trend toward lower postoperative lactate levels (p = 0.08). No differences could be found for secondary outcomes. Levosimendan use in pediatric patients is not associated with major side effects and may lead to hemodynamic improvement after cardiac surgery. However, its impact on major clinical outcomes remains to be determined. Overall, the quality of evidence for levosimendan use in pediatric patients is low, and further high-quality RCTs are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Silvetti
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Critical Care and Perinatal Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Belletti
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Bianzina
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Critical Care and Perinatal Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Mona Momeni
- Department of Anesthesiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
A single center experience in pediatric cardiomyopathy. Risk factors, outcomes and the effect of levosimendan. PROGRESS IN PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ppedcard.2020.101201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
4
|
Goyer I, Brossier D, Toledano B. Hemodynamic support of a 15-year-old waiting for a heart transplant: Is there a role for levosimendan in pediatric heart failure? Arch Pediatr 2018; 25:132-135. [PMID: 29395891 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Decompensated heart failure in children requires rapid and aggressive support. In refractory cases, invasive supportive care is essential to ensure cardiac output. This results in lengthy pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stays, secondary morbidity, and high cost. Levosimendan may help palliate the pitfalls encountered with the usual treatment. It has been shown to improve hemodynamics and decrease morbidity and mortality from heart failure in adult trials and pediatric cohorts. We report the case of a 15-year-old boy with dilated cardiomyopathy and refractory ventricular dysfunction who was weaned from continuous inotropes and discharged from the PICU with levosimendan while waiting for heart transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Goyer
- Department of pharmacy, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Côte-Ste-Catherine, H3T1C5 Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - D Brossier
- Department of pediatric intensive care unit, CHU de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14033 Caen, France
| | - B Toledano
- Department of pediatrics, university of Montreal, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Côte-Ste-Catherine, H3T1C5 Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Joynt C, Cheung PY. Cardiovascular Supportive Therapies for Neonates With Asphyxia - A Literature Review of Pre-clinical and Clinical Studies. Front Pediatr 2018; 6:363. [PMID: 30619782 PMCID: PMC6295641 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Asphyxiated neonates often have hypotension, shock, and poor tissue perfusion. Various "inotropic" medications are used to provide cardiovascular support to improve the blood pressure and to treat shock. However, there is incomplete literature on the examination of hemodynamic effects of these medications in asphyxiated neonates, especially in the realm of clinical studies (mostly in late preterm or term populations). Although the extrapolation of findings from animal studies and other clinical populations such as children and adults require caution, it seems appropriate that findings from carefully conducted pre-clinical studies are important in answering some of the fundamental knowledge gaps. Based on a literature search, this review discusses the current available information, from both clinical studies and animal models of neonatal asphyxia, on common medications used to provide hemodynamic support including dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, milrinone, norepinephrine, vasopressin, levosimendan, and hydrocortisone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Joynt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Po-Yin Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Centre for the Study of Asphyxia and Resuscitation, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang C, Gong J, Shi S, Wang J, Gao Y, Wang S, Peng YG, Song J, Wang Y. Levosimendan for Pediatric Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery Undergoing Repair: A Single-Center Experience. Front Pediatr 2018; 6:225. [PMID: 30155453 PMCID: PMC6102403 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the benefit of levosimendan in certain complicated congenital heart procedures such as the pediatric anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) with moderate or severe cardiac dysfunction and its repair. Study Design: We enrolled 40 pediatric patients with ALCAPA and moderate or severe left ventricular dysfunction. Patients who had a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 50% or less and had undergone the surgical correction of their coronary artery through cardiopulmonary bypass met the criteria of our study. Twenty patients were given 0.1-0.2 μg/kg/min levosimendan at the induction of anesthesia, which lasted for 24 h. The remaining 20 patients were not given levosimendan. Results: The mean preoperative LVEF in the levosimendan group was significantly lower than that in the non-levosimendan group (22.5 ± 10.7% vs. 31.8 ± 8.1%, p = 0.004). On postoperative day 7, the LVEF in the levosimendan group was still significantly lower (27.1 ± 8.9% vs. 37.5 ± 11.0%, p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in ΔLVEF detected on day 7 [median 30.8%, interquartile range (IQR) -4.4 to 63.5% vs. median 15.1%, IQR -3.5 to 40.0%, p = 0.560] or at follow-up of about 180 days (median 123.5%, IQR 56.1-222.6% vs. median 80.0%, IQR 36.4-131.3%, p = 0.064). There was no significant difference between the two groups in postoperative vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) at any of the time points of 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h (p = 0.093). Three patients had to be supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation when difficulty appeared in weaning off cardiopulmonary bypass because of low cardiac output in the non-levosimendan group, but no patient needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after levosimendan infusion (p = 0.231). The length of intensive care unit stay (median 10.5 days, IQR 7.3-39.3 days vs. median 4.0 days, IQR 2.0-10.0 days, p = 0.002) and duration of mechanical ventilation (median 146.0 h, IQR 76.5-888.0 h vs. median 27.0 h, IQR 11.0-75.0 h, p = 0.002) were revealed to be longer in the levosimendan group. Peritoneal dialysis occurred in eight patients (40%) in the levosimendan group and two patients (10%) in the non-levosimendan group (p = 0.028). No significant difference was revealed in all-cause mortality within 180 days, which occurred in two patients (10%) in the levosimendan group and one (5%) in the non-levosimendan group (p = 1.00). Conclusion: Levosimendan's unique pharmacological properties have strong potential for cardiac function recovery among pediatric patients with ALCAPA with impaired left ventricular function who have undergone surgical repair.However, any improvement from levosimendan on postoperative outcomes or mortality was not substantiated by this study and must be investigated further.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunrong Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Junsong Gong
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhui Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuchen Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Sudena Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yong G Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, UF Health Shands Hospital, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jing Song
- Department of Anesthesiology, Harbor District Hospital of Zhengzhou First People's Hospital, Zhengzhou City, China
| | - Yuefu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Séguéla PE, Tafer N, Thambo JB, Mauriat P. [Use of levosimendan in children]. Arch Pediatr 2016; 23:848-56. [PMID: 27369103 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Levosimendan is a calcium-sensitizing drug with positive inotropic properties. As an inodilator, this molecule also has a vasodilation effect. While its efficacy has been demonstrated in the adult in the context of cardiac surgery, its pediatric use is still not widespread. Many studies have shown its safety of use in children, including in the newborn. Across the world, a growing number of teams use levosimendan to treat both acute and chronic heart failure. Through a review of the literature, we describe its pharmacodynamic effects, its current applications, and its perspectives of use in children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P-E Séguéla
- Service de cardiologie pédiatrique et congénitale, hôpital Haut-Lévèque, CHU de Bordeaux, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac cedex, France; Service de réanimation chirurgicale des cardiopathies congénitales, hôpital Haut-Lévèque, CHU de Bordeaux, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac, France.
| | - N Tafer
- Service de réanimation chirurgicale des cardiopathies congénitales, hôpital Haut-Lévèque, CHU de Bordeaux, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac, France
| | - J-B Thambo
- Service de cardiologie pédiatrique et congénitale, hôpital Haut-Lévèque, CHU de Bordeaux, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac cedex, France
| | - P Mauriat
- Service de réanimation chirurgicale des cardiopathies congénitales, hôpital Haut-Lévèque, CHU de Bordeaux, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac, France
| |
Collapse
|