Regional lactate and oxygen saturation gradients: preliminary experimental data

Regional differences among blood flow and oxygen uptake are widely cited but not well explained. The lactate shuttle concept, alternative sets of lactate production, nowadays, challenges our comprehension about oxygen delivery and consumption. Recent studies have shown the prognostic value of oxygen and lactate gradients measured from central venous to pulmonary artery circulation. Our data represent one sample of our 4-year experimental research, trying to build a conceptual framework related to oxygen and lactate dynamic in different hypoxic states.