Beneficial effects of levosimendan on cerebral vasospasm induced by subarachnoid haemorrhage: An experimental study

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of levosimendan to prevent cerebral vasospasm in a rabbit model of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).Animals and methods: Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into three groups randomly. SAH was induced by injecting autologous blood into the cisterna magna. (Group 1 = control:sham surgery group, Group 2 = SAH alone group, Group 3 = SAH plus levosimendan group). Histopathological examination was performed on day 3 as described. Intravenous levosimendan dose (initially 12 µg kg−1 infusion, continuously for at least 10 minutes and then continued with a dose of 0.2 µg kg−1 min−1) treatment was started after the induction of SAH. Three days later, the animals were sacrificed.Results: In pathological investigation; there was statistically significant difference in luminal area and muscular wall thickness of the basilar artery between all groups (p < 0.005). Malondialdehyde level was also found significantly low in the levosimendan group ...