Association between gastric intramucosal pH and splanchnic endotoxin, antibody to endotoxin, and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract

These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that impaired gut-barrier function is responsible for endotoxemia occurring during cardiopulmonary bypass. It is unclear whether increased mucosal permeability and mucosal acidosis are causally related phenomena or simply independent markers of damage to gut epithelium.