Assessment of the Repeatability of Sublingual Microcirculation Function Measurements in Healthy Volunteers and Critically Ill Patients

Assessment of the Repeatability of Sublingual Microcirculation Function Measurements in Healthy Volunteers and Critically Ill Patients

The assessment of microcirculatory function plays a pivotal role in perioperative medicine and intensive care. One promising method for evaluating microcirculatory function is the microscopic analysis of the oral mucosal microvasculature. However, this method is not currently fully validated.

The aim of this study is to assess the repeatability of sublingual microcirculation measurements using the CytoCam-IDF device (Braedius Medical).

Group 1: Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

• ASA Physical Status I-II
• Age 18-40 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic diseases
• Chronic medication use
• Pregnancy
• Use of stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, alcohol) within 12 hours prior to the study
• Lack of consent to participate

Group 2: Patients Hospitalized in the ICU

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 years
• Hospitalization in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• Requirement for vasoactive drugs (minimum norepinephrine equivalent dose >0.1μg/kg / min )
• Mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube

Exclusion Criteria:

• Head and craniofacial trauma
• Pregnancy
• Intensive fluid therapy (>200ml/h)
• Changes in vasoactive drug dosages within 30 minutes prior to study inclusion
• Hypothermia (body temperature <35.5 oC)
• Fever (body temperature >38.5oC)