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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Measurement of Myocardial Lactate Production for Diagnosis of Coronary Microvascular Spasm
Published on: September 17, 2021
Temporary left ventricular assist and levosimendan for coronary artery spasm
Ulrich R Döpfmer1, Jan P Braun, Joachim Grosse
1Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care, Charité University Hospital, Campus Mitte, Schumannstrasse 20-21, 10117 Berlin, Germany. doepfmer@snafu.de
Abstract:
Coronary vasospasm is a life threatening complication in the early postoperative period after coronary artery bypass grafting. We report a 45-year-old patient with normal preoperative ventricular function who could not be stabilized using established treatments such as: systemic application of glyceryl trinitrate, diltiazem and milrinone, intraaortic balloon pumping and intracoronary injection of glyceryl trinitrate. Severe stunning of the myocardium required support with a centrifugal left ventricular assist device. Subsequent application of levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, may have contributed to prevent recurrence of repeated episodes of coronary spasm, enabling early explantation of the assist device and a full recovery.
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