Effects of early hemodynamic resuscitation on left ventricular performance and microcirculatory function during endotoxic shock.

Background: Microcirculation and macrohemodynamics are severely compromised during septic shock. However, the relationship between these two compartments needs to be further investigated. We hypothesized that early resuscitation restores left ventricular (LV) performance and microcirculatory function but fails to prevent metabolic disorders.

Pulmonary artery smooth muscle activation attenuates arterial dysfunction during acute pulmonary hypertension.

Acute pulmonary hypertension (PH) may arise with or without an increase in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) tone. Our objective was to determine how VSM activation affects both the conduit (CF) and wall buffering (BF) functions of the pulmonary artery (PA) during acute PH states. PA instantaneous flow, pressure, and diameter of six sheep were recorded during normal pressure (CTL) and different states of acute PH: 1) passively induced by PA mechanical occlusion (PPH); 2) actively induced by intravenous administration of phenylephrine (APH); and 3) a combination of both (APPH).