Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Cardiopulmonary Bypass in a Mouse Model: A Novel Approach
Published on: September 22, 2017
Ocular surface microcirculation is better preserved with pulsatile versus continuous flow during cardiopulmonary
Anne Kari Kvernebo1,2,3, Takuma Miyamoto4, Liv Drolsum1,2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Background:
Non-pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may induce microvascular dysregulation. In piglets, we compared ocular surface microcirculation during pulsatile versus continuous flow (CF) bypass.
Methods:
Ocular surface microcirculation in small tissue volumes (~0.1 mm3 ) at limbus (high metabolic rate) and bulbar conjunctiva (low metabolic rate) was examined in a porcine model using computer assisted video microscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, before and after 3 and 6 h of pulsatile (n = 5 piglets) or CF (n = 3 piglets) CPB. Functional capillary density, capillary flow velocity and microvascular oxygen saturation were quantified.
Results:
At limbus, velocities improved with pulsatility (p < 0.01) and deteriorated with CF (p < 0.01). In bulbar conjunctiva, velocities were severely reduced with CF (p < 0.01), accompanied by an increase in capillary density (p < 0.01). Microvascular oxygen saturation decreased in both groups.
Conclusion:
Ocular surface capillary densities and flow patterns are better preserved with pulsatile versus CF during 6 h of CPB in sleeping piglets.
