Monitoring of the mitochondrial NADH redox state (an indicator of intracellular oxygen levels) together with microcirculatory blood flow (TBF) and with oxygenation (HbO₂) could serve as a preferred approach to evaluate tissue O₂ balance or viability. We hypothesize that in the presence of reduced oxygen delivery and extraction, blood flow will be redistributed in order to protect the most vital organs by increasing their regional blood flow, while O₂ delivery to the less vital organs will diminish. Thus, the NADH redox state of less vital organs could serve as an indicator of overall O₂ imbalance as well as an endpoint of resuscitation. We have therefore developed an optical device embedded in a Foley catheter to provide real-time data on the NADH redox state, TBF and HbO₂ in critically ill patients.

The CritiView is a computerized optical device that integrates hardware and software in order to provide real-time information of tissue viability 1. A modified three-way Foley catheter that contains a fiberoptic probe connects the CritiView to the mucosal side of the urethral wall. We have used this device in five female pigs that underwent graded hemorrhage, and in four patients who were monitored during aortic abdominal aneurysm operations. These preliminary swine model and human studies confirm the feasibility of collecting information about mitochondrial function from the urethral wall. The main effects of graded hemorrhage started when the blood volume decreased by 30%. At 40% blood loss, minimal levels of TBF and HbO₂ were correlated to the maximal NADH levels. The values of the three parameters returned to baseline after retransfusion of the shed blood. Aortic clamping in patients led to a significant decrease in TBF and HbO₂ while NADH levels increased. After aortic declamping, the parameters recovered to normal values.

Our preliminary results show that the CritiView may be a useful tool for the detection of O₂ imbalance and the development of an emergency metabolic state in nonvital tissues.