Patient Directed Perfusion Pressure on Bypass, an Analogy from Electrical Engineering—A New Concept

Organ ischemia, particularly mesenteric and renal, can occur despite a seemingly adequate perfusion flow and pressure during a period of cardiopulmonary bypass. The blood pressure to run bypass at remains a contentious issue. We present the concept that perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass should be patient specific, depending on an individual’s resting pre-procedural blood pressure. Four simulated arterial traces with variable morphology, but identical systolic and diastolic blood pressures, were analyzed to calculate the medical mean, arithmetic mean, and root mean square of the blood pressure tracing. Using the standard medical formula for calculation of mean blood pressure, you can potentially underestimate perfusion pressure by 12 mmHg in a normotensive subject. The root mean square pressure calculates the equivalent non pulsatile pressure that will deliver the same hydraulic power to the circulation as its pulsatile equivalent. Patient specific perfusion pressures, calculated via root mean square may potentially help reduce the incidence of organ ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass. Clinical trials are needed to confirm or refute this concept.