Monitoring Microcirculatory Blood Flow during Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients as a Predictor for Anaerobic Metabolism.

Introduction: Improving tissue oxygenation is one of most important tasks in management of low cardiac output. Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO) and lactate are established criteria for monitoring the adequacy of tissue oxygenation. The venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide difference [P(v-a)CO] is inversely associated with cardiac output.