Anaerobic Lactate Production Is Associated With Decreased Microcirculatory Blood Flow and Decreased Mitochondrial Respiration Following Cardiovascular Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Increased anaerobic lactate production, estimated by LPR, has a negative relationship with microcirculatory blood flow after cardiovascular surgery. This relationship does not persist when measuring lactate alone. In addition, decreased mitochondrial respiration is associated with increased lactate after cardiovascular surgery. These findings suggest that high lactate levels after cardiovascular surgery, even in the setting of normal hemodynamics, are not simply a type B phenomenon as previously suggested.