Figure 1.

Effects of adequate fluid administration on microvascular blood flow.

Progressive increasing of convective flow after fluid loading during microcirculatory conditions of pure convective flow derangements (A1, A2) and combined with increased heterogeneity of blood flow (B1, B2). An optimal fluid administration corrects convective and heterogeneity blood flow disturbances (C). Note that the number of vessels with adequate flow per tissue area represents the functional capillary density (FCD), i.e., the major determinant of the diffusive component of oxygen transport to tissues. Black arrows pointing down represent the magnitude of the blood flow.