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World Journal of Emergency Medicine ›› 2022, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (5): 343-348.doi: 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2022.031

• Review Article •     Next Articles

Intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in sepsis: pathophysiology, clinical monitoring, and therapeutic interventions

A-ling Tang1,3, Mei-jia Shen2,3, Guo-qiang Zhang3()   

  1. 1Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
    2Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    3Department of Emergency, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
  • Received:2021-12-16 Accepted:2022-05-22 Online:2022-08-23 Published:2022-09-01
  • Contact: Guo-qiang Zhang E-mail:zhangchong2003@vip.sina.com

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Intestinal microcirculation dysfunction is an important factor that causes poor prognosis in sepsis patients and is an important pathophysiological basis for the occurrence and development of sepsis.

DATA RESOURCES: PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched from inception to August 1, 2021. The search was limited to the English language only. Two reviewers independently identified studies related to intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in sepsis. Exclusion criteria were duplicate articles according to multiple search criteria.

RESULTS: Fifty articles were included, and most of them were animal studies. These studies reported pathogenesis, including endothelial dysfunction, leukocyte recruitment and adhesion, microthrombus formation, microcirculation hypoperfusion, and redistribution of intestinal wall blood flow. The monitoring methods of intestinal microcirculation were also diverse, including handheld microscopes, intravital microscopy (IVM), laser Doppler blood flow instruments, laser speckle contrast imaging, tissue reflectance spectrophotometry, biochemical markers of intestinal ischemia, and histopathological examination. In view of the related pathogenesis of intestinal microcirculation disorder in sepsis, existing studies also have different opinions on its treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Limited by monitoring, there are few clinical studies on intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in sepsis. Related research mainly focuses on basic research, but some progress has also been made. Therefore, this review may provide a reference for future research on intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in sepsis.

Key words: Sepsis, Microcirculation, Intestinal barrier, Intestinal ischemia, Review