Table 1.

Location specific changes in vasomotor regulation following cardiac surgery

Circulatory Bed	Vascular Response	Potential Mechanism
Coronary	Impaired vasomotor regulation. Increased or decreased vascular tone Vasospasm	Altered NO and COX signaling, increased VEGF Insults associated with cardioplegic arrest
Pulmonary	Enhanced SM and EC contraction Increased permeability and vascular tone	Inflammatory signals associated with CPB ERK and PKC activity Altered eNOS activity
Peripheral (Skeletal)	Hypotension/ impaired vasomotor regulation	Altered NO and COX signaling Sustained catecholamines
Gastrointestinal (mesenteric)	Enhanced constriction	Inflammatory signals associated with CPB ERK and PKC activity Altered NO and COX signaling