[Physiopathologic aspects of microcirculation in intensive care].

In critical care patients, microvascular alterations and perfusion heterogeneity play an important role in the persistence of cellular hypoxia despite a satisfactory functioning of the macrocirculation. Advance in the knowledge of microcirculatory pathophysiology, and its relation with the macrocirculation could be in the future a way to improve the outcome of critically ill patients. Moreover, the evolution of clinical practice towards microcirculation monitoring as a standard of care, with new therapeutic targets aimed to increase tissue perfusion, could be a revolution in critical care practice.