Association between serosal intestinal microcirculation and blood pressure during major abdominal surgery

Background:In clinical practice,blood pressure is used as a resuscitation goal on a daily basis,with the aim of maintaining adequate perfusion and oxygen delivery to target organs.Compromised perfusion is often indicated as a key factor in the pathophysiology of anastomotic leakage.This study was aimed at assessing the extent to which the microcirculation of the bowel coheres with blood pressure during abdominal surgery.Methods:We performed a prospective and observational cohort study.In patients undergoing abdominal surgery,the serosal microcirculation of either the small intestine or the colon was visualized using handheld vital mi-croscopy(HVM).From the acquired HVM image sequences,red blood cell velocity(RBCv)and total vessel density(TVD)were calculated using MicroTools and AVA software,respectively.The association between microcircula-tory parameters and blood pressure was assessed using Pearson’s correlation analysis.We considered a two-sided P-value of<0.050 to be significant.Results:In 28 patients undergoing abdominal surgery,a total of 76 HVM images were analyzed.The RBCv was 335±96μm/s and the TVD was 13.7±3.4 mm/mm ^(2).Mean arterial pressure(MAP)was 71±12 mm Hg during microcirculatory imaging.MAP was not correlated with RBCv(Pearson’s r=−0.049,P=0.800)or TVD(Pearson’s r=0.310,P=0.110).Conclusion:In 28 patients undergoing abdominal surgery,we found no association between serosal intestinal microcirculatory parameters and blood pressure.