Michael Gerard Mythen

Main area of research interest is the role of gut mucosal hypoperfusion in the pathogenesis of post-operative organ dysfunction. On-going projects include: i) the effects of temperature on gut perfusion during cardiopulmonary by-pass, ii) the relationship between cerebral and splanchnic hypoperfusion during cardiac surgery, iii) the relationship between gut mucosal hypoperfusion and outcome in patients admitted for surgical intensive care, iv) the effects of enteral feeding on gut perfusion and subsequent outcome in ICU patients, v) the effects of isovolemic hemodilution on splanchnic perfusion in a canine model of critical coronary constriction, vi) the relationship between gut mucosal hypoperfusion and post-operative nausea and vomiting.

Further areas of research interest include: i) the relationship between endogenous core endotoxin antibodies and outcome in patients undergoing major surgery, ii) the possible use of both active and passive immunisation against endotoxin in an attempt to improve outcome, iii) the pharmaco-kinetics of Aprotinin during cardiopulmonary by-pass and iv) the non-invasive measurement of cardiac output.