Uso del levosimendán en el paciente quirúrgico crítico

Levosimendan is the only calcium sensitizer currently used at clinical level. Its primary indication is decompensated heart failure, and although its effectiveness has been demonstrated in the medical patient, use in the surgical patient has been more restricted. Nevertheless, new publications have appeared in high risk situations, such as septic shock and cardiogenic shock. Other drug effects has been reported, which we believe deserve more attention, as the cardioprotective effect and the anti-myocardial stunning effect. Throughout this review, we intend to analyse the new contributions of this undoubtedly complex drug but, in our opinion, very useful in some situations. Copyright © 2008 Aran Ediciones, s. l.