Sublingual and muscular microcirculatory alterations after cardiac arrest: a pilot study

Post-cardiac arrest resuscitated patients often develop a sepsis like syndrome , which may be associated with organ dysfunction. Impaired microcirculatory blood flow is thought to play a key role in sepsis induced organ failure. The Authors investigated microvascular density and reactivity in the early phase following cardiac arrest. OUr data showed that the early post-resuscitation phase is characterised by significant abnormalities in microvascular density and flow, which return to normal within 48 hours after cardiac arrest. these changes may be influenced by body temperature.