Stopped: There was insufficient funding to continue the study in good conditions.
Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is a circulatory cardio supplementation technique; it therefore makes it possible to compensate for a defective cardiac or cardio-respiratory function. ECLS nevertheless remains a temporary assistance technique pending a potential recovery of cardiac function, or it can be used to direct patients towards a heart transplant or long-term circulatory assistance (Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) or Total Heart). In patients with complete or partial recovery of cardiac and circulatory function, ECLS withdrawal may be considered. Withdrawal from ECLS remains a delicate phase and the risk of failure is high. The mechanism of action of levosimendan, a drug that increases the contractility of the heart, suggests that it would improve the heart-vessel connection and reduce the rate of ECLS withdrawal failure. The effect of levosimendan is maximal 24 to 48 hours after the end of the infusion and has a prolonged period of action. The objective is to evaluate the efficacy of levosimendan administration (0.2 µg/kg/min over 24 hours) - versus placebo - prior to ECLS removal on the rate of withdrawal failure in patients under ECLS.
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
ECLS withdrawal failure
Timeframe: 7 days after ECLS removal