[Study of peripheral blood circulation during continuous and pulsatile perfusion based on the data of transcutaneous pO2 and pCO2 monitoring]

The study was performed on 22 patients with congenital heart valve defects after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Transcutaneous and arterial pO2 and pCO2 have been measured at different stages of investigation. Nonpulsatile flow was applied to 10 patients and pulsatile flow--to 12 patients. Pulsatile pressure was maintained at about 30 mmHg. Transcutaneous index, carbon dioxide gradient and transcutaneous oxygen shunt have been calculated. Perfusion caused a decrease in transcutaneous pO2 and transcutaneous index, as well as an increase in transcutaneous O2 shunt. The use of non-pulsatile flow caused the most marked peripheral vasoconstriction. Transcutaneous index demonstrates that peripheral circulation decrease in pulsatile flow is 3 times lower than in non-pulsatile flow. Calculation of transcutaneous index and O2 shunt based on transcutaneous pO2 and pCO2 values can characterize peripheral circulation prior to, during and following perfusion.