Microcirculatory response and leukocyte activation in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

During surgery, in line with macro-hemodynamics, the oxygen transport capability at the tissue level was impaired, as observed by a significant decrease in tissue red blood cell perfusion compared with the preoperative baseline ([53.4 ± 17.5] vs. [36.1 ± 10.5] µm/min, P <0.001).

In the postoperative phase, the microcirculation recovered to baseline levels ([54.6 ± 12.5] µm/min).