Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Efficacy and Safety of Pulmonary Vasodilator and Inodilator Drugs in Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors' conclusion
Vasodilators and inodilators did not significantly decrease perioperative mortality in pediatric CHD.
Study context
- Population
- Pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery
- Participants
- 3,118 patients · 28 RCTs
- Comparison
- Pulmonary vasodilators and inodilators (perioperative) compared with each other or control in pediatric CHD surgery
- Outcome
- Postoperative mortality
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- IV levosimendan ranked highest in decreasing postoperative mortality, effect not statistically significant
- Vasodilators and inodilators did not significantly decrease perioperative mortality
Further pooled results
Duration of mechanical ventilation
- Significantly reduced by IV sildenafil and inhaled nitric oxide (NO)
ICU LOS
- Significantly shortened by inhaled NO
Mean pulmonary artery pressure
- Reduced by inhaled iloprost, NO and enteral sildenafil
Safety
- No intervention significantly affected the incidence of AKI
Original publication
Efficacy and Safety of Pulmonary Vasodilator and Inodilator Drugs in Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. Published 27 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →