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Related Concept Videos

Cardiac Output II: Effect of Stroke Volume on Cardiac Output01:22

Cardiac Output II: Effect of Stroke Volume on Cardiac Output

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Cardiac output (CO), the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute, is a parameter in cardiovascular physiology determined by stroke volume and heart rate. Stroke volume, the amount of blood pushed from one of the ventricles per heartbeat, is influenced by preload, afterload, and contractility.
Preload
Preload refers to the initial elongation of the cardiac myocytes before contraction and is related to the volume of blood filling the heart at the end of diastole, or end-diastolic volume. The...
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Cardiac Output I:Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output01:19

Cardiac Output I:Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output

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Cardiac Output
Cardiac output (CO) refers to the total amount of blood ejected by one of the ventricles in liters per minute (L/min). In a resting adult, CO ranges from 5 to 6 L/min, adjusting according to the body's metabolic requirements.
Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output adapts to metabolic demands during stress, physical activity, or illness. The autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate via the sinoatrial node. The parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart...
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The Cardiac Cycle01:13

The Cardiac Cycle

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The heart beats rhythmically in a sequence called the cardiac cycle—a rapid coordination of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole).
The Process
Electrical signals—sent from the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atrial wall to the atrioventricular (AV) node between the right atrium and right ventricle—cause both atria to simultaneously contract. When the signal reaches the AV node, it pauses for approximately a tenth of a second, allowing the atria to contract and...
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Cardiac Cycle01:29

Cardiac Cycle

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The cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of events that occur in the heart from the beginning of one heartbeat to the next. It's characterized by alternating periods of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the heart muscles.
During the cardiac cycle, blood flow through the heart is regulated entirely by changing pressure gradients. This sequence of events begins with the heart in a state of total relaxation, known as mid-to-late diastole, during which blood passively flows from...
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Cardiac Action Potential01:30

Cardiac Action Potential

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Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
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Exercise and Cardiac Output01:17

Exercise and Cardiac Output

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Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Noninvasive Determination of Vortex Formation Time Using Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery
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Noninvasive Determination of Vortex Formation Time Using Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery

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Levosimendan Following Cardiac Surgery.

Sean M Conte1, Daniel S Florisson1, Joshua A De Bono1

  • 1Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Heart, Lung & Circulation
|March 28, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Perioperative levosimendan does not show a mortality benefit in cardiac surgery patients. Recent large trials contradict earlier findings, indicating levosimendan should not be routinely used.

Keywords:
Cardiac surgeryLevosimendanPerioperativeReview

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Isolation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells from Healthy Volunteers and Their Migratory Potential Influenced by Serum Samples After Cardiac Surgery
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Surgical Swine Model of Chronic Cardiac Ischemia Treated by Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
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Isolation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells from Healthy Volunteers and Their Migratory Potential Influenced by Serum Samples After Cardiac Surgery
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Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Perioperative levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer used in cardiac surgery.
  • Previous studies suggested a potential mortality benefit.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the evidence for levosimendan improving mortality after cardiac surgery.
  • To determine if levosimendan should be routinely used in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • A best evidence topic review was conducted.
  • Fourteen papers representing the best available evidence were analyzed.
  • Included a meta-analysis and recent randomized controlled trials.

Main Results:

  • An older meta-analysis showed reduced mortality with levosimendan (OR 0.41, p <0.001), but this was based on trials by the same author.
  • Three larger, more recent randomized controlled trials found no significant difference in mortality.
  • The evidence does not robustly support levosimendan for mortality benefit.

Conclusions:

  • Levosimendan lacks strong evidence for mortality benefit in cardiac surgery patients.
  • Routine use of levosimendan in this context is not substantiated.
  • Further high-quality research may be needed to clarify its role.