Resuscitating the Microcirculation in Sepsis: The Central Role of Nitric Oxide, Emerging Concepts for Novel Therapies, and Challenges for Clinical Trials

Microcirculatory dysfunction is a critical element of the pathogenesis of severe sepsis and septic shock. In this Bench-to-Bedside review, we present: (1) the central role of the microcirculation in the pathophysiology of sepsis; (2) new translational research techniques of in vivo videomicroscopy for assessment of microcirculatory flow in human subjects; (3) clinical investigations that reported associations between microcirculatory dysfunction and outcome in septic patients; (4) the potential role of novel agents to "rescue" the microcirculation in sepsis; (5) current challenges facing this emerging field of clinical investigation; and (6) a framework for the design of future clinical trials aimed to determine the impact of novel agents on microcirculatory flow and organ failure in patients with sepsis. We specifically focus this review on the central role and vital importance of the nitric oxide molecule in maintaining microcirculatory homeostasis and patency, especially when the microcirculation sustains an insult (as with sepsis), and we present the scientific rationale for clinical trials of exogenous nitric oxide administration to treat microcirculatory dysfunction and augment microcirculatory blood flow in early sepsis therapy.