Systemic and regional effects of levosimendan and arginine–vaopressine in endotoxin-treated rabbits

Vascular and myocardial dysfunctions are often combined in septic mammals. Septic shock treatment therefore usually associates vasoconstricting and positive inotropic agents, mostly dopamine, norepinephrine (NE) and/or dobutamine. An alternative can be the use of noncatecholamine agents: arginine–vaopressine (AVP) and levosimendan (LS).