Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Hemodynamic management ultimately aims to restore oxygen availability in the tissue. Some hemodynamic variables, both on a macrohemodynamic and a microcirculatory scale, remain difficult to obtain in a clinical setting, and in many instances, more research is needed to determine their relevance in a physiologic context and evaluate individualized targets. This thematic collection aims at bringing together translational and basic original research and reviews on the subject.

The idea of extracorporeal blood purification (aside from classical renal replacement therapy) to eliminate injurious mediators of the sepsis syndrome has received increasing interest over the last years. In fact, blood purification techniques, such as hemoadsorption, are already widely used in clinical practice due to its plausible theoretical rationale, despite lack of clear evidence. Moreover, some recent studies have raised important risk-benefit concerns underlining the fundamental need of further research in this field. This thematic collection invites authors to focus on both pre-clinical and clinical approaches to explore future perspectives of blood purification in the additive treatment of sepsis. The aim is not only to contribute to an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms influenced by blood purification but also to set the stage for taking the next steps to improve the clinical management.