title: [Levosimendan in patients with acute cardiac failure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess levosimendan efficacy in acute cardiac failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 25 patients with acute cardiac failure and partial conventional therapy response defined as persistence of low cardiac output with inotropic support. We started levosimendan at loading dose and continuous infusion for 24 hours, recording hemodynamic data, as well as clinical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients showed clinical and hemodynamic improvement. Pulmonary wedge capillary pressure (PWCP) decreased from 18 cmH2O (11-30 cmH2O) to 14 cmH2O (8-15 cmH2O) at 12 hours (p = 0.3) and to 13 cmH2O (8-12 cmH2O) at the end of the infusion period (p = 0.2). Cardiac index increased from 2.1 L/min/m2 (1.8-3.5 L/ min/m2) to 2.86 L/min/m2 (2-4.3 L/min/m2) at 12 hours (p = 0.03) and to 3.08 L/min/m2 at the end of the infusion period (p = 0.02). Tachycardia higher than 120 bpm was present in six patients. No major hypotensive events were present. Mortality to the present is of eight patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levosimendan infusion improved hemodynamics and clinical variables in acute cardiac failure with few side effects in this small series of patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Crítica "Dr. Mario Shapiro", ABC Medical Center, México, DF.
authors.forename: Roberto de Jesús
authors.initials: Rde J
authors.lastname: García Graullera
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sánchez Mécatl
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cerda García
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torreblanca Marín
authors.forename: Janet Silvia
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Aguirre Sánchez
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077464:Simendan
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan