Predictive Value of Fragmented QRS in Response to Levosimendan Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure
INTRODUCTION Positive inotropic drugs are necessary in patients with acute decompensated heart failure and systolic dysfunction and having hypotension and/or peripheral hypoperfusion despite vasodilator and diuretic therapy (1). Levosimendan is dissimilar from other positive inotropic remedies in terms of providing increased contractility without enhancing the oxygen consumption of the heart (2). It increases cardiac contractility as a means of enhancing the calcium sensitivity of contractile proteins in the myocardium. Furthermore, it leads to the opening of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels in vascular tissues and vasodilatation (3).