Reduced Systemic Nitric Oxide Bioavailability Parallels Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction during Cardiopulmonary Bypass
The impairment of microvascular endothelial function during CPB in cardiac surgery for the correction of congenital heart defects appears to be related to a reduced systemic bioavailability of NO, resulting from the inflammatory and pro-oxidative response typical of this surgical procedure.