title: Levosimendan use in several scenarios of acute heart failure.
abstract: In countries where it is available, early levosimendan infusion can be considered for patients who remain symptomatic with dyspnea at rest despite initial therapy, particularly those with a history of chronic heart failure or chronically treated with beta-blockers. Hypotensive patients or patients with active ischemia are not the best candidates for levosimendan administration and should have these problems addressed first.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Hospital Geral de Santo António, Porto - Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mebazaa
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000075202:Contraindications; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007022:Hypotension / Q000150:complications; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077464:Simendan; D013577:Syndrome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D011724:Pyridazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000077464:Simendan