Levosimendan in Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator Supported Patients: Impact on the Success of Weaning and Survival

Purpose

Weaning failure and mortality in veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO) supported patients are significant. Small studies suggest the possible usefulness of levosimendan in this environment, especially in post‐cardiotomy shock.

Materials and methods

Retrospective analysis of VA‐ECMO implants in a referral hospital comparing weaning failure and survival of patients treated with levosimendan with a control group.

Results

From 2013 to May 2020, 123 ECMO‐VA for several indications were implanted. Levosimendan was administered in 23 patients (18.7%) with good tolerance. Levosimendan was used more frequently in cardiogenic shock due to acute coronary syndrome indication, and in patients with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at the implant. No significant differences were found in success of ECMO weaning (60.9% levosimendan group vs. 44% non‐levosimendan group, p=0.169) despite worse LVEF in levosimendan group. Survival at follow‐up (20.6 [58] months) was higher in the group that received levosimendan, although without finding statistically significant differences (47.8% vs. 32.0%, log rank p=0.124).

Conclusions

Levosimendan can be safely administered during VA‐ECMO support. Patients receiving levosimendan were weaned similarly from circulatory support despite worse LVEF. Its use did not influence in short and medium term survival. Randomized studies are needed to evaluate the levosimendan impact in this indication.