After ischemia–reperfusion, volume-loading-steps led to a significant increase of cardiac output as well as mean arterial pressure, while pulse pressure variation and mean Flux were significantly reduced (Pairwise comparison ischemia/reperfusion-injury vs.

A reduction of ≥ 10% mean Flux was considered a relevant decrease. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the ability of pulse pressure variation to predict a decrease in microcirculation. Mean microcirculatory blood flow (mean Flux) of the ileum was measured using direct laser-speckle-contrast-imaging. 6 h after ischemia/reperfusion-injury measurements were performed during 4 consecutive volume-loading-steps, each consisting of 6 ml kg −1 bodyweight −1. Ischemia/reperfusion was induced during aortic surgery. The study was performed in 8 anesthetized domestic pigs (German landrace). The study was designed as a prospective explorative large animal pilot study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate, whether an impairment of intestinal microcirculation caused by volume-load potentially can be predicted using pulse pressure variation in an experimental model of ischemia/reperfusion injury.

This accounts particularly when capillary leakage is present and volume-overload will promote impairment of microcirculatory blood flow. An equally important aspect is however to also avoid volume-overload. Dynamic parameters of preload have been widely recommended to guide fluid therapy based on the principle of fluid responsiveness and with regard to cardiac output.

Pulse pressure