Clinical evaluation of reflectance spectrophotometry for the measurement of gastric microvascular oxygen saturation in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

Functional testing in the diagnosis of chronic mesenteric ischemia

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) results from insufficient oxygen delivery or utilization to meet metabolic demand. Two main mechanisms may lead to mesenteric ischemia: occlusion in the arteries or veins of the gastrointestinal tract, or reduced blood flow from shock states or increased intra-abdominal pressure, so-called non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia. Severe stenoses in the three main mesenteric vessels as demonstrated with CT-angiography or MR-angiography are sufficient to proof mesenteric ischemia, for example in patients who present with weight loss, postprandial pain and diarrhea. Still in many clinical situations mesenteric ischemia is only one of many possible explanations. Especially in patients with a single vessel stenosis in the celiac artery or superior mesenteric artery with postprandial pain, mesenteric ischemia remains a diagnosis of probability or assumption without functional proof of actual ischemia. This review is aimed to provide an overview of all past, present and future ways to functionally proof CMI.

From system to organ to cell: oxygenation and perfusion measurement in anesthesia and critical care

Maintenance or restoration of adequate tissue oxygenation is a main goal of anesthesiologic and intensive care patient management. Pathophysiological disturbances which interfere with aerobic metabolism may occur at any stage in the oxygen cascade from atmospheric gas to the mitochondria, and there is no single monitoring modality that allows comprehensive determination of "the oxygenation". To facilitate early detection of tissue hypoxia (or hyperoxia) and to allow a goal directed therapy targeted at the underlying problem, the anesthesiologist and intensive care physician require a thorough understanding of the numerous determinants that influence cellular oxygenation. This article reviews the basic physiology of oxygen uptake and delivery to tissues as well as the options to monitor determinants of oxygenation at different stages from the alveolus to the cell.

Rapid and accurate determination of tissue optical properties using least-squares support vector machines

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) has been extensively applied for the characterization of biological tissue, especially for dysplasia and cancer detection, by determination of the tissue optical properties. A major challenge in performing routine clinical diagnosis lies in the extraction of the relevant parameters, especially at high absorption levels typically observed in cancerous tissue. Here, we present a new least-squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) based regression algorithm for rapid and accurate determination of the absorption and scattering properties. Using physical tissue models, we demonstrate that the proposed method can be implemented more than two orders of magnitude faster than the state-of-the-art approaches while providing better prediction accuracy. Our results show that the proposed regression method has great potential for clinical applications including in tissue scanners for cancer margin assessment, where rapid quantification of optical properties is critical to the performance.

Distinct alterations in sublingual microcirculatory blood flow and hemoglobin oxygenation in on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery

OBJECTIVE

The authors hypothesized that cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (on-pump) is associated with more severe changes in the microcirculatory blood flow and tissue oxygenation as compared with off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

DESIGN

An observational study.

SETTING

A university hospital and teaching hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients undergoing on-pump (n = 24) or off-pump (n = 24) cardiac surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Microcirculatory measurements were performed before CPB and 10 minutes after the switch to CPB or before and during cardiac luxation in off-pump patients.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Sublingual microcirculatory perfusion was investigated using side-stream dark field imaging, and sublingual microcirculatory oxygenation was measured using reflectance spectrophotometry. Conversion to CPB resulted in an increase in cardiac output from 4.0 ± 0.2 to 4.8 ± 0.3 L/min (p < 0.01) and a 40% reduction in arterial hemoglobin concentration. Cardiopulmonary bypass was associated with an increase in venular blood velocity from 349 ± 201 μm/s to 563 ± 227 μm/s (p < 0.05), a reduction in functional capillary density of 43%, and an increase in hemoglobin oxygenation of the red blood cells in the remaining filled capillaries from 47.2% ± 6.1% to 59.7% ± 5.2% (p < 0.001). The decrease in cardiac output during cardiac luxation from 4.5 ± 1.7 to 1.8 ± 0.8 L/min (p < 0.01) without hemoglobin changes was associated with a complete halt of capillary blood flow and a reduction in maximum capillary blood velocity from 895 ± 209 to 396 ± 178 μm/s (p < 0.01). The functional capillary density remained unchanged, whereas the hemoglobin oxygenation declined from 64.2% ± 9.1% to 48.6% ± 8.7% (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

On-pump and off-pump cardiac surgery are associated with distinct alterations in sublingual microcirculatory perfusion and hemoglobin oxygenation. Although on-pump surgery results in a fall out of capillaries resulting in decreased oxygen extraction, off-pump surgery results in a cessation of flow during luxation resulting in decreased convection of oxygen transport.

Measurement of splanchnic photoplethysmographic signals using a new reflectance fiber optic sensor

Splanchnic organs are particularly vulnerable to hypoperfusion. Currently, there is no technique that allows for the continuous estimation of splanchnic blood oxygen saturation (SpO(2)). As a preliminary to developing a suitable splanchnic SpO(2) sensor, a new reflectance fiber optic photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensor and processing system are developed. An experimental procedure to examine the effect of fiber source detector separation distance on acquired PPG signals is carried out before finalizing the sensor design. PPG signals are acquired from four volunteers for separation distances of 1 to 8 mm. The separation range of 3 to 6 mm provides the best quality PPG signals with large amplitudes and the highest signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Preliminary calculation of SpO(2) shows that distances of 3 and 4 mm provide the most realistic values. Therefore, it is suggested that the separation distance in the design of a fiber optic reflectance pulse oximeter be in the range of 3 to 4 mm. Preliminary PPG signals from various splanchnic organs and the periphery are obtained from six anaesthetized patients. The normalized amplitudes of the splanchnic PPGs are, on average, approximately the same as those obtained simultaneously from the periphery. These observations suggest that fiber optic pulse oximetry may be a valid monitoring technique for splanchnic organs.

Microcirculatory function monitoring at the bedside--a view from the intensive care

Microcirculatory dysfunction plays a key role in the pathophysiology of various disease states and may consequently impact patient outcome. Until recently, the evaluation of the microcirculation using different measurement techniques has been mostly limited to animal and human research. With technical advances, microcirculatory monitoring nowadays becomes more and more available for application in clinical praxis. Unfortunately, measurements within the microcirculation are mostly limited to easily accessible surfaces, such as skin, muscle and tongue. Due to major differences in the physiologic regulation of microcirculatory blood flow and in metabolism between organs and even within different tissues in one organ, the clinical importance of regional microcirculatory measurements remains to be determined. In addition, technical methods available demonstrate large differences in the measured parameters and sampling volume, making interpretation of data even more difficult. Nonetheless, the monitoring of the microcirculation may, ahead of time, alert physicians that tissue oxygen supply becomes compromised and it may lead to a better understanding of basic pathophysiological aspects of disease. In the present review, we describe available non-invasive microcirculatory measurement techniques which can be applied clinically at the bedside. After a short discussion of physiologic and pathophysiologic basics related to microcirculatory monitoring, the measuring principles, applications, strengths and limitations of different monitoring systems are discussed.

Diagnosis of chronic mesenteric ischemia by visible light spectroscopy during endoscopy

BACKGROUND

Chronic mesenteric ischemia can be difficult to diagnose by means of currently available clinical techniques. We developed a novel endoscopic device for objective measurement of GI mucosal ischemia.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to evaluate the performance of the device in patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia.

DESIGN

A fiberoptic catheter-based visible light spectroscopy oximeter (T-Stat 303 Microvascular Oximeter, Spectros, Portola Valley, Calif) was used to evaluate 30 healthy control subjects and 3 patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia before and after successful percutaneous stenting.

SETTING

Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System hospital.

RESULTS

Normal mucosal (capillary) hemoglobin oxygen saturation was 60% to 73% in the duodenum and jejunum. In the 3 patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia, ischemic areas in the duodenum or proximal jejunum were found with mucosal saturations of 16% to 30%. After successful angioplasty and stent placement of the celiac, superior mesenteric, or inferior mesenteric arteries, the mucosal saturation in these areas increased to 51% to 60%.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study suggests that chronic mesenteric ischemia is detectable during endoscopy by use of visible light spectroscopy and that successful endovascular treatment results in near normalization of mucosal oxygen saturation.

Gastrointestinal Motility During Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Sonomicrometric Study

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is known to impair the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract. However, little is known about the movement behavior of the gastrointestinal tract during CPB. This study was aimed to assess the gastrointestinal motility with sonomicrometry, a distance measurement using ultrasound, in a porcine model of CPB. Twelve pigs weighing 70-112 kg were having a standard hypothermic CPB for 120 min either with the nonpulsatile flow (n = 6) or the pulsatile flow (n = 6). Before CPB, piezoelectric echo crystals were placed either along the longitudinal or the circular axis of the pylorus. Patterns of gut movement and the total sonomicrometric activity (TSA) were recorded at several time intervals during experiments as qualitative and quantitative parameters of gut motility. Results showed that the intact regular rhythmic pattern of gut movement was detected before CPB. This pattern changed little when CPB started, but it disappeared at 60 min when the body temperature lowered down to 32 degrees Celsius. During the same period, the TSA reduced significantly along the longitudinal as well as the circular directions of the pylorus. There was no significant difference between the nonpulsatile and pulsatile groups. Gut blood flow reduced significantly in both groups, but it was not associated with the reduced sonomicrometric activity. In conclusion, gastrointestinal motility during CPB can be measured qualitatively and quantitatively by sonomicrometry in a large animal model. Suppression of gut motility during CPB does not seem to be associated with the mode of perfusion but with the reduced body temperature during the hypothermic phase of CPB.

Redistribution of intestinal microcirculatory oxygenation during acute hemodilution in pigs

Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) compromizes intestinal microcirculatory oxygenation; however, the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that contributors herein include redistribution of oxygen away from the intestines and shunting of oxygen within the intestines. The latter may be due to the impaired ability of erythrocytes to off-load oxygen within the microcirculation, thus yielding low tissue/plasma Po2 but elevated microcirculatory hemoglobin oxygen (HbO2) saturations. Alternatively, oxygen shunting may also be due to reduced erythrocyte deformability, hindering the ability of erythrocytes to enter capillaries. Anesthetized pigs underwent ANH (20, 40, 60, and 90 ml/kg hydroxyethyl starch; ANH group: n = 10; controls: n = 5). We measured systemic and mesenteric perfusion. Microvascular intestinal oxygenation was measured independently by remission spectrophotometry [microcirculatory HbO2 saturation (μHbO2)] and palladium-porphyrin phosphorescence quenching [microcirculatory oxygen pressure in plasma/tissue (μPo2)]. Microcirculatory oxygen shunting was assessed as the disparity between mucosal and mesenteric venous HbO2 saturation (HbO2-gap). Erythrocyte deformability was measured as shear stress-induced cell elongation (LORCA difractometer). ANH reduced hemoglobin concentration from 8.1 to 2.2 g/dl. Relative mesenteric perfusion decreased (decreased mesenteric/systemic perfusion fraction). A paralleled reduction occurred in mucosal μHbO2 (68 ± 2 to 41 ± 3%) and μPo2 (28 ± 1 to 17 ± 1 Torr). Thus the proposed constellation indicative for oxygen off-load deficits (sustained μHbO2 at decreased μPo2) did not develop. A twofold increase in the HbO2-gap indicated increasing intestinal microcirculatory oxygen shunting. Significant impairment in erythrocyte deformability developed during ANH. We conclude that reduced intestinal oxygenation during ANH is, in addition to redistribution of oxygen delivery away from the intestines, associated with oxygen shunting within the intestines. This shunting appears to be not primarily caused by oxygen off-load deficit but rather by oxygen/erythrocytes bypassing capillaries, wherein a potential contributor is impaired erythrocyte deformability.

Evaluation of circulatory compromise in the leg in lumbar spinal canal stenosis

To evaluate whether hemoglobin oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentration of the leg are useful indicators for circulatory compromise in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis, we investigated the changes in the indices during level gait using reflectance spectrophotometry. Thirty-three patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were studied. Preoperatively, the hemoglobin oxygen saturation was greater in the 33 patients than in the control subjects. The indices increased in the control subjects more than those in the patients. Postoperatively, the increases in hemoglobin oxygen saturation were greater in the patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis than before decompression and the hemoglobin concentration tended to approximate that in the control subjects. The results suggest these indices might be useful for monitoring disease severity in patients with lumber spinal canal stenosis. In addition to stenotic ischemia in the spinal canal, it is thought that the neurogenic intermittent claudication is secondarily caused by circulatory failure in the lower extremities attributable to the autonomic nervous dysfunction.

Levosimendan is superior to milrinone and dobutamine in selectively increasing microvascular gastric mucosal oxygenation in dogs*

OBJECTIVE

The effect of levosimendan, a novel inotropic vasodilator (inodilator), on the microvascular gastric mucosal hemoglobin oxygenation (muHbo(2)) is unknown. A possible effect could thereby be selective for the splanchnic region or could primarily reflect changes in systemic oxygen transport (Do(2)) and/or oxygen consumption (Vo(2). We compared systemic and regional effects of levosimendan with those of established inotropes, milrinone and dobutamine.

DESIGN

Laboratory experiment.

SETTING

University animal research laboratory of experimental anesthesiology.

SUBJECTS

Chronically instrumented dogs with flow probes for cardiac output measurement.

INTERVENTIONS

Anesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs (each group n = 6) on different days randomly received levosimendan (10 microg.kg, followed by four infusion steps: 0.125-1.0 microg.kg.min), milrinone (5.0 microg.kg, followed by 1.25-10 microg.kg.min), or dobutamine (2.5-10.0 microg.kg.min). Since these drugs may modify regional or systemic responses to fluid load, an additional predefined volume challenge was subsequently performed with hydroxyethyl starch 6% (10 mL.kg).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We measured muHbo(2) (reflectance spectrophotometry), Do(2), Vo(2), and systemic hemodynamics. Levosimendan significantly increased muHbo(2) from baseline (approximately 55% for all groups) to 64 +/- 4% and further to 69 +/- 2% with volume challenge (mean +/- sem). At the systemic level, levosimendan alone only slightly increased Do(2) at a Vo(2). Milrinone elicited similar systemic effects (Do(2), Vo(2), hemodynamics) but failed to increase muHbo(2). Dobutamine, conversely, increased muHbo(2) to a similar extent as levosimendan; however, this was accompanied by marked increases in Do(2) and Vo(2). The gastric mucosa selectivity of these interventions, expressed as slope of the muHbo(2)/Do2 relation, was highest for levosimendan (+1.89 and +1.14, without and with volume challenge), compared with milrinone (+0.45 and + 0.47) and dobutamine (+0.48 and + 0.33).

CONCLUSIONS

Levosimendan is superior to milrinone (no significant regional effects) and dobutamine (marked systemic effects) in increasing gastric mucosal oxygenation selectively (i.e., at only moderately increased Do(2) and stable Vo(2). If our experimental data apply to the clinical setting, levosimendan may serve as an option to selectively increase gastrointestinal mucosa oxygenation in patients at risk to develop splanchnic ischemia.

Reflectance spectrophotometry for the assessment of mucosal perfusion in the gastrointestinal tract

Reflectance spectrophotometry (RS) is an optical technology that has been used for nearly three decades in the measurement of tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation in the gastrointestinal tract. The technology has evolved substantially throughout this period,and commercial devices are now available for use in clinical trials. Numerous studies have used RS to investigate the importance of mucosal perfusion in disorders such as ulcer disease, portal hypertension, and septic shock. More recently, the technique has been applied to measure changes in perfusion in response to infusion of vasoactive medications and maneuvers such as cardiopulmonary bypass. The results of current trials investigating the application of RS in critical care monitoring and vascular interventions will likely determine whether the technique will evolve from predominantly a research tool to a clinically useful device.

Dopamine under α1-blockade, but not dopamine alone or fenoldopam, increases depressed gastric mucosal oxygenation*

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of dopamine, both in the presence and absence of alpha1-blockade, and fenoldopam on microvascular gastric mucosal oxygenation and systemic oxygen transport under compromised circulatory conditions, both without and with fluid resuscitation.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled animal study.

SETTING

University department of anesthesiology.

SUBJECTS

Eight anesthetized dogs with chronically implanted ultrasound flow probes around the pulmonary artery for continuous measurement of cardiac output.

INTERVENTIONS

On different days, the dogs received in random order either dopamine (2.5 and 5.0 microg.kg(-1).min(-1), with or without alpha1-blocker pretreatment), the selective DA1-agonist fenoldopam (0.1 and 1.0 microg.kg(-1).min(-1), with and without DA1-blocker pretreatment), or saline (control). These interventions were performed under compromised cardiocirculatory conditions (induced by ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] of 10 cm H2O), both without and with fluid resuscitation.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We continuously measured regional microvascular hemoglobin saturation (microHbO2) in gastric mucosa by reflectance spectrophotometry and systemic oxygen transport ([U1E0A]O2). Ventilation with PEEP significantly decreased [U1E0A]O2 (from 19 +/- 2 to 9 +/- 1 mL.kg(-1).min(-1), mean +/- sem) and gastric mucosal microHbO2 (from 57 +/- 2% to 37 +/- 3%). Fluid resuscitation restored [U1E0A]O2 back to baseline (from 9 +/- 1 to 19 +/- 2 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) but only partially restored microHbO2 (from 37 +/- 3% to 50 +/- 4%). Under both conditions, dopamine with and without alpha1-blockade significantly increased [U1E0A]O2 (by about 5 mL.kg-1.min-1 in the nonresuscitated state and 10 mL.kg-1.min-1 in the fluid resuscitated state, respectively), but only dopamine in the presence of alpha1-blockade also significantly increased gastric mucosal microHbO2 (by 5 +/- 1% and 7 +/- 2% in the nonresuscitated and fluid resuscitated states, respectively). Fenoldopam under all study conditions did not significantly affect [U1E0A]O2 or microHbO2, either in the presence or absence of DA1-blockade.

CONCLUSIONS

During compromised cardiocirculatory conditions, alpha1-receptor activation during dopamine infusion prevented an increase in gastric mucosal oxygenation. Furthermore, selective DA1-stimulation (by fenoldopam) was insufficient to overcome the PEEP-induced depression of microHbO2. The responses of gastric mucosal oxygenation did not parallel changes in systemic oxygen transport. These findings were independent of fluid resuscitation.

Assessment of microvascular oxygen saturation in gastric mucosa in volunteers breathing continuous positive airway pressure

OBJECTIVE

Adequate oxygenation of the gastrointestinal mucosa to preserve its barrier function is a basic objective in the prevention of multiple organ failure. Sustaining a positive airway pressure during the entire respiratory cycle remains a cornerstone in the therapeutic regimen to improve systemic oxygenation. Whereas increased systemic oxygenation during breathing continuous positive airway pressure has been shown, the impact of continuous positive airway pressure on regional oxygenation in the gastrointestinal tract has not yet been evaluated. We hypothesized that continuous positive airway pressure decreases microvascular oxygen saturation in gastric mucosa.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized study.

SETTING

University department of anesthesiology.

PARTICIPANTS

Twelve healthy volunteers.

INTERVENTIONS

Incremental increases of continuous positive airway pressure (0, 5, and 10 cm H(2)O) and subsequent release of continuous positive airway pressure.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We continuously measured microvascular oxygen saturation in gastric mucosa by reflectance spectrophotometry. Systemic oxygen saturation, end-tidal Pco(2), respiratory rate, heart rate, and arterial blood pressure were obtained noninvasively. In every volunteer, microvascular oxygen saturation in gastric mucosa was reduced corresponding to the level of continuous positive airway pressure, although systemic variables, especially systemic oxygen saturation, did not change. Continuous positive airway pressure reduced microvascular oxygen saturation in gastric mucosa from 59 +/- 7% (baseline with 0 cm H(2)O continuous positive airway pressure, mean +/- sd) to 54 +/- 8% (p <.05) during 5 cm H(2)O continuous positive airway pressure and to 50 +/- 9% (p <.05) during 10 cm H(2)O continuous positive airway pressure, returning to 59 +/- 7% during spontaneous breathing with 0 cm H(2)O continuous positive airway pressure. End-tidal Pco(2), respiratory rate, as well as hemodynamic variables, remained stable.

CONCLUSIONS

Reflectance spectrophotometry meticulously monitored changes in microvascular oxygen saturation in gastric mucosa during breathing continuous positive airway pressure. Microvascular oxygen saturation in gastric mucosa decreased with increasing levels of continuous positive airway pressure despite steady systemic variables. These results suggest that the impact of altering airway pressures on splanchnic oxygenation is not mirrored necessarily by concomitant changes in systemic circulation. Moreover, if these findings also apply to critically ill patients, monitoring microvascular oxygen saturation in gastric mucosa would be useful to further optimize the setting of ventilation variables.