Pretreatment with levosimendan improves outcome in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Methods Loading dose of levosimendan at low-dose (12 mcg/kg), high-dose (24 mcg/kg) or placebo were administered in thirty-one patients in randomized controlled study. Bolus thermodilution by pulmonary artery catheter used for cardiac output (CO) measuring. Numerical data were described by median. To compare the three independent groups (low or high-dose levosimendan or placebo) the Kruskal-Walis test was applied. For comparing time points in one group, we tested the differences in time within each group with the Friedman test.