OVER THE PAST DECADE, there has been a significant decline in cardiac surgery–
associated mortality, despite an increase in procedural complexity. Although the average …

Levosimendan was first approved for clinical use in 2000, when authorization was granted
by Swedish regulatory authorities for the hemodynamic stabilization of patients with acutely …

Background Levosimendan is an inotropic agent that has been shown in small studies to
prevent or treat the low cardiac output syndrome after cardiac surgery. Methods In a …

Background Acute left ventricular dysfunction is a major complication of cardiac surgery and
is associated with increased mortality. Meta-analyses of small trials suggest that …

Importance Low cardiac output syndrome after cardiac surgery is associated with high
morbidity and mortality in patients with impaired left ventricular function. Objective To assess …

Background Inotropes and vasopressors are frequently administered to critically ill patients
in order to improve haemodynamic function and restore adequate organ perfusion …

Levosimendan is a positive inotrope with vasodilating properties (inodilator) indicated for
decompensated heart failure (HF) patients with low cardiac output. Accumulated evidence …

The management of patients with shock is extremely challenging because of the myriad of
possible clinical presentations in cardiogenic shock, septic shock and hypovolemic shock …

Background Levosimendan is an inodilator developed for treatment of acute heart failure
and other cardiac conditions where the use of an inodilator is considered appropriate …

Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer and adenosine triphosphate–dependent potassium
channel opener, which exerts sustained hemodynamic, symptomatic, and organ-protective …