Pulsatile Versus Nonpulsatile Flow During Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Microcirculatory and Systemic Effects

Pulsatile perfusion is superior to nonpulsatile perfusion at preserving the microcirculation, which may reflect attenuation of the systemic inflammatory response during CPB. We suggest the implementation of pulsatile flow can better optimize microvascular perfusion, and may lead to improved patient outcomes in high-risk cardiac surgical procedures requiring prolonged CPB time.