Monitoring of the Sublingual Microcirculation During Cardiac Surgery: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

Handheld vital microscopes allow for direct observation of the sublingual microcirculatory perfusion during cardiac surgery. Through the use of handheld vital microscopes, it has been shown that cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with reduced and heterogenous microcirculatory perfusion. Microcirculatory impairment can result in inadequate tissue perfusion, leading to perioperative complications and poor outcome. Because microcirculatory impairment can occur despite stable or improved global hemodynamics, there is a yet unmet need for specific monitoring of the microcirculation.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Review Article Source Type: research