Preoperative optimization with levosimendan in heart failure patient undergoing thoracic surgery

INTRODUCTION: We present the case of a patient with dilatative cardiomyopathy waiting for heart transplantation with pleural effusion to be subjected to pleural biopsy, treated with preoperative infusion of levosimendan to improve heart performances. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 56-year-old man (BMI 22,49) with dilatative cardiomyopathy (EF 18%) presented right pleural effusion. The levosimendan treatment protocol consisted of 24 h continuous infusion (0,1 ug/kg/min), without bolus. The patient was under continuous hemodynamic monitoring prior, during and after levosimendan administration. The surgery for pleural biopsy was performed with uniportal Video Assisted Thoracoscopic approach (VATS). DISCUSSION: A significant increase of Cardiac Index (CI) and Stroke Volume Index (SVI) were observed at 4 h after infusion initiation and was sustained during the next 24 h after the end of infusion. Levosimendan administration was safe. CONCLUSION: In this case the prophylactic preoperative levosimendan administration is safe and effective in cardiac failure patient undergoing thoracic surgery, but prophylactic preoperative levosimendan treatment in these patients merits further study.