Microvascular Responsiveness to Pulsatile and Non-Pulsatile Flow During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

The authors conducted a prospective randomized study of 20 high-risk cardiac surgical patients, split into two groups:  pulsatile versus nonpulsatile flow during cardiopulmonary bypass.  Using spectral imaging and near-infrared technology, the group found that the the pulsatile perfusion group maintained better perfusion indices in the microcirculation.