Microcirculation and artificial heart research

Small blood vessels may play a more important role in artificial heart (AH) recipients than ever suspected before. Observations of elevated total peripheral resistance, low hematocrit, reduced oncotic pressure, high circulating blood volume, and arterial pulsations with nonpulsatile devices require consideration of peripheral vascular control mechanisms. Establishment of microcirculatory parameters could help in adapting cardiac output to different metabolic states. AH research offers the opportunity to evaluate pure microvascular effects of drugs without any cardiac influences. Furthermore, drugs could be developed to alter microvascular and hence, hemodynamic conditions in patients with AH. However, further development of microcirculatory techniques is imperative in order to examine small blood vessels in large animals or patients.