Congenital heart defects are the most prevalent group of congenital malformations in newborns. Surgery-related low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) could be one of the reason for the unfavourable outcome of this population. The early use of inodilators (INDs), specifically milrinone (MR), is proposed to reduce afterload and increase inotropism. Studies in the paediatric population appear to support a clinical usefulness of MR similar to that observed in adults. Levosimendan (LEVO) is a novel class IND developed for the treatment of heart failure. Experience with LEVO in paediatric patients is scarce. The purpose of this study was to systematically test the efficacy and safety of milrinone (MR) and levosimendan (LEVO) in newborns undergoing cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Given the uncertainty about LEVO pharmacokinetics in neonates, the study was designed as a pilot, phase I feasibility study.
Surgical repair is the primary therapy for congenital heart defects in the newborn. The neonatal cardiovascular system is at particular risk to develop the surgery-related low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), thus vasoactive agents are routinely used in the postoperative management. Systematic research on the efficacy of these drugs is scarce in the newborn. As LCOS pathophysiology joints impaired myocardial contractility and the peripheral effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury on the endothelium, early use of inodilators (IND) are strongly recommended to reduce afterload and improve contractility. This study aims to test the equivalence in dose-dependent hemodynamic effects of 2 IND, Milrinone and Levosimendan, used early without loading dose in the preoperative period to prevent LCOS. By means of non-invasive technology the investigators will assess cardiac function (serial structural and functional echocardiography), the cerebral and peripheral perfusion and oxygenation (continuous near-infrared monitoring), cerebral function (continuous amplitude integrated EEG monitoring), will rule out CNS acquired lesions (serial transfontanelar echo-Doppler studies), and will follow up different biochemical markers of myocardial stress and apoptosis. Pharmacokinetic studies will be also performed.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
20
Before surgery, patients received milrinone (MR) (milrinone lactate 1 mg/ml). Intravenous continuous infusion of the study drug through a separate central line started intraoperatively and was increased step-wise at predefined time points: dose 1, starting immediately after central lines were placed and maintained for the duration of the surgical procedure; dose 2, on NICU admission providing the patient was in stable haemodynamic condition; dose 3, starting after 2 hours of stability with dose 2, and maintained up to 48 hours IND infusion started. Accordingly, patients randomised to MR received 0.5 , 0.75 and 1 microg/kg per min
Before surgery patients received levosimendan (levosimendan 2.5 mg/ml). Intravenous continuous infusion of the study drug through a separate central line started intraoperatively and was increased step-wise at predefined time points: dose 1, starting immediately after central lines were placed and maintained for the duration of the surgical procedure; dose 2, on NICU admission providing the patient was in stable haemodynamic condition; dose 3, starting after 2 hours of stability with dose 2, and maintained up to 48 hours IND infusion started. Accordingly, patients randomised to LEVO received 0.1 , 0.15 and 0.2 microg/kg per min, for doses 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Perfusion-oxygenation
Changes in cerebral and thigh oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb), deoxyhaemoglobin (HHb), total haemoglobin (THb) and tissue oxygenation index (TOI). The cerebral and peripheral intravascular oxygenation as c∆HbD was also assessed.
Time frame: NIRS evaluation started immediately after surgery and was maintained during 24 h. At 48 h after surgery, a new NIRS evaluation during 4 hours. At 96 h post-surgery, during 4h.
Blood gases
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) and then one determination every 6 hours until 24 h post-surgery. One determination at 48h post-surgery. One determination at 96 h post-surgery.
Blood pressure
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) to post-operative day 6.
temperature
central (axilla) and peripheral (foot) temperature
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) to post-operative day 6.
arterial oxygen saturation
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) to post-operative day 6.
cooximetry
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) and then one determination every 6 hours until 24 h post-surgery. One determination at 48h post-surgery. One determination at 96 h post-surgery.
lactate
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) and then one determination every 6 hours until 24 h post-surgery. One determination at 48h post-surgery. One determination at 96 h post-surgery.
glucose
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) and then one determination every 6 hours until 24 h post-surgery. One determination at 48h post-surgery. One determination at 96 h post-surgery.
haemoglobin concentration
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) and then one determination every 6 hours until 24 h post-surgery. One determination at 48h post-surgery. One determination at 96 h post-surgery.
Biochemical markers
Serum creatinine, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), troponine I (TnI) and proinflammatory and antinflammatory factors \[interleukin (IL) beta 1, IL 6, IL 7, IL 8, IL 10, and tumor necrotic factor alpha
Time frame: baseline, at 24h after surgery and on day 6 post-surgery
Inodilators concentration
Milrinone and Levosimendan plasma concentration
Time frame: Basal, two hours after dose 2; and at 24 and 48h from the start of the IND infusion in infants receiving IND dose 3. Beyond that period (open study), daily samples were obtained for LEVO up to day 7 postsurgery, and at 10 and 14 days.
inotrope score
calculated according to Wernovsky
Time frame: preoperative (baseline) and then one evaluation every 6 hours until 24 h post-surgery. At 48h post-surgery. At 96 h post-surgery.
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