- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Part 5.1 Physiology
- Part 5.2 Cardiovascular monitoring
- Chapter 129 ECG monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 130 Arterial and venous cannulation in the ICU
- Chapter 131 Blood pressure monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 132 Central venous pressure monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 133 Pulmonary artery catheterization in the ICU
- Chapter 134 Mixed and central venous oxygen saturation monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 135 Right ventricular function in the ICU
- Chapter 136 Cardiac output assessment in the ICU
- Chapter 137 Oxygen transport in the critically ill
- Chapter 138 Tissue perfusion monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 139 Lactate monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 140 Measurement of extravascular lung water in the ICU
- Chapter 141 Doppler echocardiography in the ICU
- Chapter 142 Monitoring the microcirculation in the ICU
- Chapter 143 Imaging the cardiovascular system in the ICU
- Part 5.3 Acute chest pain and coronary syndromes
- Part 5.4 Aortic dissection
- Part 5.5 The hypotensive patient
- Part 5.6 Cardiac failure
- Part 5.7 Tachyarrhythmias
- Part 5.8 Bradyarrhythmias
- Part 5.9 Valvular problems
- Part 5.10 Endocarditis
- Part 5.11 Severe hypertension
- Part 5.12 Severe capillary leak
- Part 5.13 Pericardial tamponade
- Part 5.14 Pulmonary hypertension
- Part 5.15 Pulmonary embolus
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 659) Monitoring the microcirculation in the ICU
- Chapter:
- (p. 659) Monitoring the microcirculation in the ICU
- Author(s):
Can Ince
and Alexandre Lima
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0142
The microcirculation is the key physiological compartment of the cardiovascular system where oxygen is delivered by convection and diffusion to respiring parenchymal cells to support cellular, and thereby organ, function. The microcirculation consists of microvessels less than 100 µmin diameter consisting of arterioles, capillaries, and venules. The smallest vessels (<6 µm) are the capillaries where most oxygen leaves the circulation by passive diffusion to cells. The critical role of the microcirculation has long been recognized, although it has recently been possible to image its function at the bedside, thus making it a clinically important compartment to monitor. Prior to this type of monitoring, peripheral perfusion was used as a surrogate before more advanced optical techniques were developed to image microcirculatory function both non-invasively and at the bedside. This chapter provides a brief overview of microcirculatory assessment.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Part 5.1 Physiology
- Part 5.2 Cardiovascular monitoring
- Chapter 129 ECG monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 130 Arterial and venous cannulation in the ICU
- Chapter 131 Blood pressure monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 132 Central venous pressure monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 133 Pulmonary artery catheterization in the ICU
- Chapter 134 Mixed and central venous oxygen saturation monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 135 Right ventricular function in the ICU
- Chapter 136 Cardiac output assessment in the ICU
- Chapter 137 Oxygen transport in the critically ill
- Chapter 138 Tissue perfusion monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 139 Lactate monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 140 Measurement of extravascular lung water in the ICU
- Chapter 141 Doppler echocardiography in the ICU
- Chapter 142 Monitoring the microcirculation in the ICU
- Chapter 143 Imaging the cardiovascular system in the ICU
- Part 5.3 Acute chest pain and coronary syndromes
- Part 5.4 Aortic dissection
- Part 5.5 The hypotensive patient
- Part 5.6 Cardiac failure
- Part 5.7 Tachyarrhythmias
- Part 5.8 Bradyarrhythmias
- Part 5.9 Valvular problems
- Part 5.10 Endocarditis
- Part 5.11 Severe hypertension
- Part 5.12 Severe capillary leak
- Part 5.13 Pericardial tamponade
- Part 5.14 Pulmonary hypertension
- Part 5.15 Pulmonary embolus
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care