Journals / International Anatolia Academic Online Journal Health Sciences / 2026 / Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2

THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF VASOPLEGIC SYNDROME FOLLOWING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS: ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION, THE NITRIC OXIDE PATHWAY AND THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE

KARDİYOPULMONER BYPASS SONRASI VASOPLEJİK SENDROMUN FİZYOPATOLOJİSİ: ENDOTEL DİSFONKSİYONU, NİTRİK OKSİT YOLU VE İNFLAMATUVAR YANIT

Bişar Amaç(HARRAN UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES)0000-0003-0320-4239
Pages
942–950
Publication Date
2026-07-12
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The aim of this mini-review is to comprehensively evaluate the pathophysiological basis of the vasoplegic syndrome developing after cardiopulmonary bypass, focusing on endothelial dysfunction, the nitric oxide pathway, the inflammatory response, biomarkers, and organ hypoperfusion.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Although cardiopulmonary bypass is a fundamental technique in cardiac surgery that enables the maintenance of systemic circulation and oxygenation, it creates an environment that differs significantly from physiological circulatory conditions.
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Key Findings & Data:One such disorder, vasoplegic syndrome, is a serious clinical condition characterised by low systemic vascular resistance, refractory hypotension and, typically, preserved or increased cardiac output.
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Conclusion & Impact:The aim of this mini-review is to comprehensively evaluate the pathophysiological basis of the vasoplegic syndrome developing after cardiopulmonary bypass, focusing on endothelial dysfunction, the nitric oxide pathway, the inflammatory response, biomarkers, and organ hypoperfusion.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Kardiyopulmoner bypass · vasoplejik sendrom · endotel disfonksiyonu

Abstract

Although cardiopulmonary bypass is a fundamental technique in cardiac surgery that enables the maintenance of systemic circulation and oxygenation, it creates an environment that differs significantly from physiological circulatory conditions. Contact of the blood with artificial surfaces, haemodilution, non-pulsatile flow, ischaemia-reperfusion processes and the systemic inflammatory response can lead to various haemodynamic and cellular abnormalities following cardiopulmonary bypass. One such disorder, vasoplegic syndrome, is a serious clinical condition characterised by low systemic vascular resistance, refractory hypotension and, typically, preserved or increased cardiac output. In current approaches, vasoplegia is regarded not merely as a haemodynamic problem, but as a multidimensional pathophysiological syndrome associated with endothelial dysfunction, excessive activation of the nitric oxide pathway, impaired vascular smooth muscle response, relative vasopressin deficiency, inflammatory cytokine release and microcirculatory dysfunction. In the development of the vasoplegic syndrome, inducible nitric oxide synthase activation, increased nitric oxide production, relaxation of vascular smooth muscle cells, unresponsiveness to catecholamines, and impaired perfusion at the capillary level are particularly prominent. As a result, systemic arterial pressure decreases, the need for vasopressors increases, and tissue oxygenation may be compromised. This process is associated with clinical outcomes such as acute kidney injury, elevated lactate levels, prolonged intensive care unit stay, and multiple organ dysfunction. The aim of this mini-review is to comprehensively evaluate the pathophysiological basis of the vasoplegic syndrome developing after cardiopulmonary bypass, focusing on endothelial dysfunction, the nitric oxide pathway, the inflammatory response, biomarkers, and organ hypoperfusion.

Özet

Kardiyopulmoner bypass, kardiyak cerrahide sistemik dolaşımın ve oksijenlenmenin sürdürülebilmesini sağlayan temel bir yöntem olmakla birlikte, fizyolojik dolaşım koşullarından önemli ölçüde farklı bir ortam oluşturur. Kanın yapay yüzeylerle teması, hemodilüsyon, non-pulsatil akım, iskemi-reperfüzyon süreçleri ve sistemik inflamatuvar yanıt, kardiyopulmoner bypass sonrası çeşitli hemodinamik ve hücresel bozukluklara yol açabilir. Bu bozukluklardan biri olan vasoplejik sendrom, düşük sistemik vasküler direnç, dirençli hipotansiyon ve genellikle korunmuş veya artmış kardiyak debi ile karakterize ciddi bir klinik tablodur. Güncel yaklaşımlarda vasopleji, yalnızca hemodinamik bir sorun olarak değil; endotel disfonksiyonu, nitrik oksit yolunun aşırı aktivasyonu, vasküler düz kas yanıtının bozulması, göreceli vazopressin eksikliği, inflamatuvar sitokin salınımı ve mikrodolaşım bozukluğu ile ilişkili çok boyutlu bir fizyopatolojik sendrom olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Vasoplejik sendromun gelişiminde özellikle indüklenebilir nitrik oksit sentaz aktivasyonu, artmış nitrik oksit üretimi, vasküler düz kas hücrelerinde gevşeme, katekolaminlere yanıtsızlık ve kapiller düzeyde perfüzyon bozukluğu ön plana çıkmaktadır. Bunun sonucunda sistemik arter basıncı düşmekte, vazopressör ihtiyacı artmakta ve doku oksijenlenmesi bozulabilmektedir. Bu süreç akut böbrek hasarı, laktat yüksekliği, yoğun bakım süresinde uzama ve çoklu organ disfonksiyonu gibi klinik sonuçlarla ilişkilendirilmektedir. Bu mini derlemenin amacı, kardiyopulmoner bypass sonrası gelişen vasoplejik sendromun fizyopatolojik temelini; endotel disfonksiyonu, nitrik oksit yolu, inflamatuvar yanıt, biyobelirteçler ve organ hipoperfüzyonu ekseninde bütüncül olarak değerlendirmektir.

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Cite This Article

Amaç, B. (2026). THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF VASOPLEGIC SYNDROME FOLLOWING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS: ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION, THE NITRIC OXIDE PATHWAY AND THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE. International Anatolia Academic Online Journal Health Sciences, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2, 942–950. https://ajindex.com/articles/1492840

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