Effects of fluorocarbon infusion on microcirculation during cardiopulmonary bypass.

A pulsatile pump was used to effect a three-hour cardiopulmonary bypass in 15 mongrel dogs. During the bypass, Fluosol-DA (35%) infusion was used in lieu of homologous blood transfusions. The greater omentum was chosen as a model of extraorganic microcirculation, and its reaction to the infusion was observed. The omentum's microcirculation was not adversely affected by the Fluosol-DA (35%): no sludging, microthrombi, arteriovenous fistulas, plasma skimming, stasis, or other adverse findings were observed. The animals' oxygen consumption did not decrease, and the resistance of the systemic blood vessels, did not increase during the experiment, suggesting that the fluorocarbon infusion had no untoward effects on the microcirculation.