Fig. 2
Microcirculation alteration during cardiogenic shock. Alterations of microcirculation can be characterized by multiple different types of impairments, such as no capillary perfusion, low perfusion, heterogeneous perfusion, stasis, or shunting area. Besides, it can also be a result of hemodilution of microcirculatory blood by plasma skimming resulting in the loss of erythrocyte-filled capillaries which decreases tissue oxygen delivery. Or it can be secondary to edema caused by capillary leak syndrome (seen in critically ill patients) which results in increased diffusive distance and reduced ability of the oxygen to reach the tissue cells