[The calcium sensitizer levosimendan gives superior results to dobutamine in postoperative low cardiac output syndrome].

Introduction And Objectives: The use of levosimendan to treat postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) has been studied in only small patient series and in randomized trials focusing on hemodynamic variables. The objective of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of levosimendan, compared with dobutamine, as a treatment for postoperative LCOS.

Methods: Patients with LCOS were randomly assigned to receive either levosimendan (loading dose, 10 microg/kg, followed by 0.

Methylene blue reduces mortality and morbidity in vasoplegic patients after cardiac surgery.

Background: The discovery of nitric oxide as mediator in cardiac postoperative vasoplegia encourages the use of inhibitory drugs such as methylene blue. This drug has been used with favorable results in isolated cases. The purpose of this article is to analyze the incidence of the postoperative vasoplegic syndrome, to consider its prognosis, and to evaluate the effect of intravenous methylene blue on mortality.