Microcirculation and Oxidative Stress in Critical Ill Patients in Surgical Intensive Care Unit

As medicine advances, many lives can be saved in the intensive care unit. However, when multiple organ failure occurs, the mortality rate of patients increases dramatically. Therefore, the major goal in the intensive care unit is to prevent the occurrence of multiple organ failure. The sepsis protocol and early goal directed treatment have great effects to reduce development of multiple organ failure and to decrease the mortality rate. However, sometime the condition of patient deteriorated in spite of both the mean blood pressure and mixed venous oxygen saturation are normal. Some experts recognize that there might be microcirculatory dysfunction of tissue or organ. The dysfunction of microcirculation might due to vasoconstriction or microthrombosis. Vasoconstriction might result from systemic inflammation, reactive oxygen species, or dysfunction of synthesis of NO (nitric oxide). Microthrombosis might result from systemic inflammation, reactive oxygen species, imbalance of coagulatory system, or damage of endothelial cell.

In clinical practice, the oxidative stress is related to circulatory shock, sepsis, acute lung injury, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This study tries to investigate the relation between oxidative stress and microcirculation. Furthermore, the investigators will try to investigate the correlation between the severity of oxidative stress and microcirculatory dysfunction and the severity of disease and prognosis. The investigators hope this study will help them to figure out the picture of disease progression of patients. It may conduct further study to modulate the oxidative stress, to improve the microcirculatory function, and finally to improve the outcome of patients.

Paitents admitted to intensive care unit with the following conditions Sepsis Postoperative care ARDS Renal Failure Liver failure Brain death

• Sepsis
• Postoperative Care
• ARDS
• Liver Failure
• Renal Failure
• Brain Death

• 1
  Patients with sepsis
  Intervention: Other: Critical care
• 2
  Patient admitted for postoperative care
  Intervention: Other: Critical care
• 3
  Patients with ARDS
  Intervention: Other: Critical care
• 4
  Patients with ARF
  Intervention: Other: Critical care
• 5
  Patients who receive liver support treatment
  Intervention: Other: Critical care
• 6
  Patients wiht brain death
  Intervention: Other: Critical care

Inclusion Criteria:

• > 18 y/o
• Related diagnosis made within 24h
• Group 1 - Sepsis
• Group 2 - Postoperative care
• Group 3 - ARDS
• Group 4 - Renal failure
• Group 5 - Liver failure
• Group 6 - Brain death

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant patients
• Related diagnosis made longer than 24h
• Patients who have received antioxidants within 24h
• Patients who have received hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Patients who have a hemoglobin value less than 9 g/dl
• Patients who have received NO