To investigate changes in the concentration of glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glycerol in the extracellular fluid of the skeletal muscle following levosimendan administration in patients with septic shock.

The study was designed as a prospective, double-blind, controlled, clinical trial and performed in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit. After achieving normovolemia and a mean arterial pressure of at least 65 mmHg, 20 septic shock patients were randomized to receive either levosimendan 0.2 μg/kg/min, or dobutamine 5 μg/kg/min. Interstitial tissue concentrations of lactate, pyruvate, glucose and glycerol were obtained by using muscle microdialysis. All measurements, including data from right heart catheterization were obtained at baseline and every 6 hours for the following 72 hours after randomization.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients who fulfilled the criteria of septic shock that required norepinephrine (NE) to maintain a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of at least 65 mm Hg despite appropriate volume resuscitation (pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure [PAOP] = 12 to 18 mm Hg and central venous pressure [CVP] = 8 to 12 mm Hg)

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy, uncontrolled hemorrhage, terminal heart failure, significant valvular heart disease, documented or suspected acute coronary syndrome, and a limitation on the use of inotropes: left ventricle outflow obstruction, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve.

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