Resuscitation from adrenaline resistant electro-mechanical dissociation facilitated by levosimendan in a young man with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

A 32-year-old man with severe congestive heart failure due to idiopathic cardiomyopathy developed ventricular tachycardia followed by electro-mechanical dissociation. High doses of conventional inotropic medications failed to restore haemodynamics. The additional infusion of levosimendan in conjunction with external chest compressions for 2.5 h restored haemodynamics, followed by complete recovery, including normal neurological function. The anti-stunning properties of levosimendan probably attenuated post-ischaemic myocardial dysfunction and helped to restore normal cardiac output.