Preoperative levosimendan in heart failure patients undergoing noncardiac surgery

Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality in noncardiac surgery. Preoperative optimisation of these patients is, thus, of utmost importance. Levosimendan seems promising for patients undergoing cardiac surgery; however, its safety and efficacy in HF patients undergoing noncardiac surgery have not been evaluated. To evaluate the effects of prophylactic preoperative levosimendan administration on left ventricular function in HF patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. HF patients with ejection fraction