Erschienen in:
18.08.2016 | Original Research
Impact of microcirculatory video quality on the evaluation of sublingual microcirculation in critically ill patients
verfasst von:
Elisa Damiani, Can Ince, Claudia Scorcella, Roberta Domizi, Andrea Carsetti, Nicoletta Mininno, Silvia Pierantozzi, Erica Adrario, Rocco Romano, Paolo Pelaia, Abele Donati
Erschienen in:
Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing
|
Ausgabe 5/2017
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Abstract
We aimed to assess the impact of image quality on microcirculatory evaluation with sidestream dark-field (SDF) videomicroscopy in critically ill patients and explore factors associated with low video quality. This was a retrospective analysis of a single-centre prospective observational study. Videos of the sublingual microcirculation were recorded using SDF videomicroscopy in 100 adult patients within 12 h from admittance to the intensive care unit and every 24 h until discharge/death. Parameters of vessel density and perfusion were calculated offline for small vessels. For all videos, a quality score (−12 = unacceptable, 1 = suboptimal, 2 = optimal) was assigned for brightness, focus, content, stability, pressure and duration. Videos with a total score ≤8 were deemed as unacceptable. A total of 2455 videos (853 triplets) was analysed. Quality was acceptable in 56 % of videos. Lower quality was associated with worse microvascular density and perfusion. Unreliable triplets (≥1 unacceptable or missing video, 65 % of total) showed lower vessel density, worse perfusion and higher flow heterogeneity as compared to reliable triplets (p < 0.001). Quality was higher among triplets collected by an extensively-experienced investigator or in patients receiving sedation or mechanical ventilation. Perfused vessel density was higher in patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤8 (18.9 ± 4.5 vs. 17.0 ± 3.9 mm/mm2 in those with GCS >8, p < 0.001) or requiring mechanical ventilation (18.0 ± 4.5 vs. 17.2 ± 3.8 mm/mm2 in not mechanically ventilated patients, p = 0.059). We concluded that SDF video quality depends on both the operator’s experience and patient’s cooperation. Low-quality videos may produce spurious data, leading to an overestimation of microvascular alterations.