We designed a non-invasive, observational, real-time study, using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess the in vivo effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on patients’ skeletal muscle as well as the effects of hemodilution and hypothermia on tissue oxygen delivery during CPB.

The study included 20 consecutive adult patients undergoing open-heart surgery with CPB. Evaluation parameters for peripheral circulation were measured using the NIRO-200NX and recorded every 30 seconds. To assess how hemodilution influences peripheral circulation parameters, we compared data between a group of patients with hematocrit (Hct) values >22% (high Hct group) and those with Hct values ⩽22% (low Hct group).

Changes in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (ΔO₂Hb, μmol/L), which flows into the skeletal muscle, was an important factor for deciding the tissue oxygenation index (TOI%), showing the tissue oxygen saturation. The low Hct group showed a significant increase in the normalized tissue hemoglobin index (nTHI), showing the percentage change in the amount of initial hemoglobin and TOI compared to the high Hct group. Changes in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (ΔO₂Hb, μmol/L) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (ΔHHb, μmol/L) were significantly less in the low Hct group than in the high Hct group, thus, showing good peripheral circulation despite the low hematocrit levels.

Our study indicated the presence of a compensatory mechanism in which increased blood flow of the microcirculation is in compensation for the lack of oxyhemoglobin delivery caused by hemodilution.