Variability of splanchnic blood flow measurements in patients with sepsis - physiology, pathophysiology or measurement errors?

Abstract

Impaired tissue oxygenation, especially in the splanchnic region, may play a central role both in the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction and in the development of complications in various groups of intensive care patients [1, 2]. In severe inflammation such as SIRS, septic infection, and septic shock, the metabolic demand for oxygen in the splanchnic region is increase [3, 4, 5]. This is explanied in part by and increased hepatic metabolism [6, 7]. In patients with normal or hyperdynamic hemodynamics, but the increase in oxygen consumption is disproportionate to the increase in blood flow.