Document Detail


Microvascular blood flow is altered in patients with sepsis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  12091178     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Microvascular blood flow alterations are frequent in animal models of sepsis and may impair tissue oxygenation. We hypothesized that alterations of the microcirculation are present in patients with sepsis. We used an orthogonal polarization spectral imaging technique to investigate the sublingual microcirculation in 10 healthy volunteers, 16 patients before cardiac surgery, 10 acutely ill patients without sepsis (intensive care unit control subjects), and 50 patients with severe sepsis. The effects of topical application of acetylcholine (10(-2) M) were tested in 11 patients with sepsis. In each subject, five to seven sublingual areas were recorded and analyzed semiquantitatively. Data were analyzed with nonparametric tests and are presented as medians (25th-75th percentiles). No significant difference in microvascular blood flow was observed between healthy volunteers and patients before cardiac surgery or intensive care unit control subjects. The density of all vessels was significantly reduced in patients with severe sepsis (4.5 [4.2-5.2] versus 5.4 [5.4-6.3]/mm in volunteers, p < 0.01). The proportion of perfused small (< 20 microm) vessels was reduced in patients with sepsis (48 [33-61] versus 90 [89-92]% in volunteers, p < 0.001). These alterations were more severe in nonsurvivors. The topical application of acetylcholine totally reversed these alterations. In conclusion, microvascular blood flow alterations are frequent in patients with sepsis and are more severe in patients with a worse outcome.
Authors:
Daniel De Backer; Jacques Creteur; Jean-Charles Preiser; Marc-Jacques Dubois; Jean-Louis Vincent
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine     Volume:  166     ISSN:  1073-449X     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.     Publication Date:  2002 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2002-07-01     Completed Date:  2002-07-30     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9421642     Medline TA:  Am J Respir Crit Care Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  98-104     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Intensive Care, Erasme University Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium. ddebacke@ulb.ac.be
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acetylcholine / administration & dosage,  pharmacology
Administration, Sublingual
Adult
Aged
Case-Control Studies
Humans
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
Microcirculation
Microscopy, Polarization
Middle Aged
Mouth Mucosa / blood supply*,  drug effects,  physiopathology
Severity of Illness Index
Shock, Septic / physiopathology*
Statistics, Nonparametric
Vasodilator Agents / administration & dosage,  pharmacology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Vasodilator Agents; 51-84-3/Acetylcholine
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Jul 1;166(1):1-2   [PMID:  12091157 ]

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