Devices for assessing microcirculation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Devices for assessing microcirculation at the bedside have been a technological breakthrough in the critical care field. Thanks to this technology, a large body of scientific evidence has highlighted the relevance of microcirculatory disruptions during critical illness. The goal of this review is to analyze the current knowledge concerning microcirculation monitoring, mainly focused on clinically available devices.

RECENT FINDINGS: New evidence in oxygenation monitoring, advances in hand-held vital microscopes, and improvements in laser-based techniques ensure the possibility of detecting poor resuscitation, testing vascular reactivity, and assessing the effect of therapy during shock and resuscitation.

SUMMARY: Currently, there are several methods for microcirculatory monitoring. To properly apply and correctly interpret the information they provide, clinicians should know the fundamental principles and the strengths and weaknesses of the clinically available devices.