Microcirculatory monitoring in septic patients: Where do we stand?

Med Intensiva. 2017 Jan-Feb;41(1):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.medin.2016.11.011. Epub 2017 Jan 17.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Microcirculatory alterations play a pivotal role in sepsis-related morbidity and mortality. However, since the microcirculation has been a "black box", current hemodynamic management of septic patients is still guided by macrocirculatory parameters. In the last decades, the development of several technologies has shed some light on microcirculatory evaluation and monitoring, and the possibility of incorporating microcirculatory variables to clinical practice no longer seems to be beyond reach. The present review provides a brief summary of the current technologies for microcirculatory evaluation, and attempts to explore the potential role and benefits of their integration to the resuscitation process in critically ill septic patients.

Keywords: Espectroscopia de luz en el espectro cercano al infrarrojo; Microcirculación; Microcirculation; Near-infrared spectroscopy; Shock; Videomicroscopia; Videomicroscopy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arterioles / physiopathology
  • Blood Gas Analysis / instrumentation
  • Blood Gas Analysis / methods*
  • Capillaries / physiopathology
  • Carbon Dioxide / blood
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Microcirculation*
  • Microscopy, Video*
  • Monitoring, Physiologic*
  • Oximetry / instrumentation
  • Oximetry / methods
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Partial Pressure
  • Point-of-Care Systems*
  • Resuscitation
  • Sepsis / blood
  • Sepsis / physiopathology*
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / instrumentation
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / methods

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Oxygen