Combination therapy with milrinone and esmolol for heart protection in patients with severe sepsis: a prospective, randomized trial.

Background and Objective As a β-adrenoceptor antagonist (β-blocker), esmolol can reduce cardiac output and the phosphodiesterase III inhibitor milrinone has been shown to improve heart contractility in patients with septic shock. This study was performed to assess the effects of esmolol combined with milrinone in patients with severe sepsis.